Yeovil Town 0-4 Manchester United: Alexis Sanchez marks his debut with assists for Marcus Rashford and Ander Herrera before late Jesse Lingard and Romelu Lukaku strikes seal FA Cup thrashing

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It was the third good booting of the night that did it. Alexis Sanchez took another mighty rap on the ankle, rolled around for a little and, with the game going on regardless, rose and ran to the touchline.

He appeared to have a conversation with Jose Mourinho, who looked at his watch. Around three minutes later, he was off. I’m a celebrity, get me out of here. Not to worry. He’d done enough.

‘What a waste of money,’ taunted the locals, but he won’t be. This wasn’t his best form, he gave the ball away 20 times in the first half, and at times looked surprisingly nervous on his Manchester United debut, almost too keen to show what he could do.

Yeovil started well against Manchester United before gifting an opener to Marcus Rashford after a defensive mistake

Ander Herrera scored the second goal just after the hour following a United counter attack following a Yeovil corner

Jesse Lingard replaced Sanchez after 72 minutes and got on the scoresheet with a low, well-hit strike in the dying minutes

Romelu Lukaku also came off the bench and tapped in a fourth goal to add gloss to the scoreline for the Premier League side

Yet he had a hand in two goals, making the crucial final pass for the second, the one that put the outcome beyond doubt.

So this was far from a poor start, even if the announcement of his man of the match award seemed a little over-indulgent and drew jeers around the ground.

Sanchez came on to a good game after an anxious opening, showed the influence he can have on United’s forward potential. Equally, he was far from a prima donna, willing to get kicked from pillar to post for the cause. That will have endeared him to his team-mates, not to mention his manager.

Brian Clough famously made Peter Shilton bring the teas in at his own press conference on signing for Nottingham Forest — Mourinho played Sanchez at Yeovil. There was a practical reason, because Sanchez has been left out for most of January at Arsenal and 70 minutes of game time will be invaluable in preparing him for Wednesday’s fixture against Tottenham at Wembley.

Yet maybe this was a grounding exercise, too, a way of reminding Sanchez what is expected of Mourinho’s Manchester United, regardless of status. And nothing keeps a player grounded like a visit to Huish Park — in some cases, literally. Yeovil aren’t a dirty team, but Sanchez was on the receiving end of some ferocious tackles.

Omar Sowunmi hit him hard in the second half and a 30th-minute clout from Nathan Smith was not so much a tackle, more an assassination.

Smith kicked Sanchez up in the air and that is no euphemism. He booted Sanchez as a fly-half might a drop goal. Sanchez took off and came down to earth with a bump.

Sanchez stood up, eventually, and tried to take revenge with the free-kick — but goalkeeper Artur Krysiak was equal to it. 

Thomas James attempted to shepherd the ball back to his goalkeeper but Rashford nipped in to poke in the opener

Rashford showed great anticipation to sneak in and score the opener. Here he is congratulated by Ander Herrera

Alexis Sanchez made his Manchester United debut against Yeovil as Jose Mourinho named 10 changes for the FA Cup tie

Sanchez shakes the hand of Rashford ahead of kick off against Yeovil, who sit 86 places below United in the football pyramid

The Chilean slid in the pass for Herrera to finish left footed across keeper Artur Krysiak and into the bottom corner of the goal

Herrera celebrates giving United a two-goal lead, which helped secure his side's passage into the fifth round of the FA Cup

He was equal to United’s other decent chance in the early exchanges, set up by Sanchez as he began to settle. His pass, beautifully weighted, found Scott McTominay who tried to steer it past Krysiak. His save was outstanding, strong hands diverting the ball around his near post.

Ultimately, though, there is a reason why Yeovil are where they are and it became apparent after 41 minutes. Sanchez and Marcus Rashford combined through the middle, United’s young striker striding into the box but the ball not quite within his control.

Then, a calamity entirely of Yeovil’s making erupted. The herd of players that had shut down Rashford left it to each other to shepherd the ball back to Krysiak. Tom James, Smith, Sowunmi, all failed to take responsibility and Rashford nipped in and rolled the ball into the net.

The second was a trademark United counter-attack, just as Yeovil were pushing for a way back into the game. If United’s opener had a degree of fortune about it, the second didn’t.

Juan Mata brought down the ball on the break and fed it to Sanchez, on the left where he had played all night. Ander Herrera was on the overlap and Sanchez’s pass was perfectly weighted. The midfielder made no mistake.

Yeovil didn’t really deserve what happened late, two United goals to give the scoreline the appearance of a slaughter. It wasn’t. 

Indeed, Yeovil could have been 2-0 up within 15 minutes — but when one team is 21st in League Two and the other can bring England internationals and £75million strikers on from the bench, four-goal margins can result. 

As the game edged towards the 90 minute mark, Lingard scored a third for United to make sure of their victory on Friday

A few minutes later, Lukaku celebrates scoring the fourth and final goal which came after a low cross by Marcos Rojo

Sanchez is tackled as Yeovil - 21st in League Two - started without fear against the side second in the Premier League

The Chile international has a shot on goal from a free kick, which was well dealt with by Yeovil goalkeeper Krysiak

Sanchez had a frustrating start to his United debut, however his pass to Rashford eventually led to the opening goal

The former Arsenal forward's debut lasted just over 70 minutes, before he was substituted off having impressed

So, with a minute of normal time remaining, the in-form Jesse Lingard surged down the right and, as Yeovil scrambled desperately to close him down, hit a low shot which defeated Krysiak and nestled in the corner.

Then, in injury time, Sowunmi failed to get out, playing a collection of red shirts onside and allowing Romelu Lukaku to bury a volley from six yards out after Marcos Rojo had crossed.

It was both a comfortable win and a lesson in humility. For while there was much to admire in Sanchez’s game, the stray passes, particularly in the first half, proved it does not matter the experience and confidence of a player, talk of fees and wages have an effect.

Sanchez’s obvious desperation to make an impression was admirable. He did not care that this was Yeovil of League Two, it was no consolation that this was only an FA Cup fourth-round tie and he had been purchased to decide far grander occasions. It could not have settled him less that he was up against James, a young full back who did not quite make the grade at Cardiff. Sanchez wanted to do well on his debut and may even have tried too hard.

The same could perhaps be said of Yeovil, whose first-half display exceeded all expectations, but who lacked the decisive finish. After seven minutes, Ryan Dickson put through Jordan Green and he sprinted on goal before shooting straight at Sergio Romero. Soon after, a free-kick from Jake Gray was met by Sowunmi, bundling Luke Shaw out of the way, but delivering an header that again required little movement from Romero.

Obscene, Yeovil chairman John Fry called Sanchez’s deal — but there is a reason why the best goalscorers get the big bucks. 

Rashford - one of 10 changes to United's starting line-up - takes on Yeovil centre back Omar Sowunmi at Huish Park

United defender Victor Lindelof wins a header against Sam Surridge but the visitors began the Friday-night game slowly

There were plenty of hefty challenges by the Yeovil players, including this one by Surridge on Rojo during the first half

Jordan Green looks to hold onto possession as Manchester United's Matteo Darmian puts him under pressure

United manager Mourinho watches on as his side kept alive their hopes of ending the season with a piece of silverware

Stewards put out a red flare thrown onto the pitch by the away supporters as United eventually managed to ease through