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Published 20:32 23 Oct 2016 BST
Updated 21:00 23 Oct 2016 BST
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Inexplicably, as the ball is angled in from left to right, Smalling runs in the completely wrong direction, towards the area of the pitch that Pedro is departing. This error is compounded by the fact Blind is completely stripped for pace by the Spaniard.
De Gea, spotting the trouble ahead, gets a little carried away and tries to cut the ball out before his compatriot reaches it. He had no chance of winning that race and found himself stranded, outside his box.
Which made the finish fairly straightforward for Pedro (no goals since April) as he ran into a deserted penalty area.
Smalling stars in the clusterfuck that leads to Chelsea's second goal also. Picking up Gary Cahill for a corner, all is going well as the ball is delivered.
Unfortunately the former Fulham man gambles on the ball reaching him as he leaves Cahill to try and intercept, only for the ball to strike Ander Herrera, bypass Smalling and find its way to the gloriously unmarked Cahill.
The Chelsea defender, gloriously unmarked, makes no mistake from six yards.
Chelsea's third goal was easy on the eye, but still owed much to some pretty shocking defensive work by United. As Kante plays the ball to Nemanja Matic there is no great danger - United have six players back and all in the right positions.
But then Mata runs away from Eden Hazard, just as the Belgian begins to move to receive the pass from Matic. Mata does this despite Smalling pointing in the opposite direction, bus does anyone pay attention to Smalling's constant gesticulations?
The inevitable happens. Mata fails to cut out Matic's pass and Hazard gains possession in the penalty area. Still lots to do.
Smalling helps him out by shepherding Hazard inside, onto his right foot. Granted, Hazard has too good feet, but you reckon De Gea would like his defenders to show opposing attackers the narrowest angle possible - not throw down the welcome mat right in front of goal
Hazard can't believe his luck and hammers the ball home.
By the time Kante saunters through the United "defenders" for the fourth you can see why Neville is so angry. The diminutive Frenchman receives a pass from Pedro, without Pogba or Herrera showing too much interest in tracking him.
With Pogba strolling in the direction of his international team-mate, Kante shapes to shoot left footed from the edge of the area.
With Smalling committing himself wholeheartedly to the block, Kante switches the ball on to his right foot. Smalling is completely sold and Pogba's leisurely pace means he cannot make a tackle. Kante is free to roll the ball across De Gea to finish the rout.
United have conceded 12 goals in nine games this season. When Chelsea won their first title under Mourinho in 2004-05, they conceded 15 goals in 38 games.
The Portuguese has an awful lot of work to do. Manchester City next in the League Cup.
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