Aditya Thakkar: That goal sums up why this tournament is second tier.

Pinda Mann: Don't know what's worse, the wall not jumping or the ball going through it.

Callum Anderson: Not his most spectacular but, hey, it's in!

Image source, Reuters

I've no idea how that ended up going in the net. Someone had to get it away!

One early goal to tell you about in the 20:05 GMT kick-offs; Anderlecht lead Zenit St-Petersburg 1-0 thanks to a lovely piece of control and finishing from Frank Acheampong. With the Russian winter break, it's Zenit's first competitive game since 8 December, so perhaps they're a little rusty.

Paul Pogba with another lovely crossfield pass as United then win a free-kick in a very good area just outside the area. The away fans have been singing something to the tune of Auld Lang Syne for five minutes or more.

Zlatan lines it up...

Image source, Getty Images

Harrison Short: What's happening?? I can't see the pitch

We have two balls momentarily on the pitch but it comes to nothing. The men in green are pushing high up the pitch and pressuring the hosts as the pacey Kevin Monnet-Paquet almost burrows through but Chris Smalling shuts the door. 

Shot on target! Signs that United are growing into the game as Anthony Martial fires in a shot from 20 yards and Stephane Ruffier has to push it clear. 

Image source, Reuters

Anthony Martial dances away from two defenders on the left and opens up a channel but Marouane Fellaini elects not to play in Daley Blind in space and the ball comes inside and slows down to walking pace again. Is this another evening where MIchael Carrick is missed?

Maybe not, if Paul Pogba can play 65-yard passes like that! Juan Mata tees up Fellaini to smash home but Mata was well offside. 

Juan Mata now plays a routine pass out of play. United have started poorly. Maybe your manager telling the world that you don't want to play in this competition does rub off.

Image source, Reuters

Sergio Romero did brilliantly in fact to a) not concede and b) not give away a penalty.

Eric Bailly does the full apology, both hands in the air. He then lets a routine ball forwards bounce which YOU CANNOT DO, as we all know.

A shaky start at the back for United. 

Saint-Etienne win an early corner which is cheered from the rafters like a goal. It comes to nothing but what a chance!

Eric Bailly plays a blind backpass, Romain Hamouma is clean through, Sergio Romero comes out and forces him wide, and the chance is gone.

Should he have scored?!

We are under way! Ian Darke tells us that this is the only trophy Manchester United have never won, which is patently untrue. The Zenith Data, Simod, Checkatrade and Johnstone's Paint to name a few...

Saint-Etienne fans are making a late surge for 'noisiest of the season'. Tremendous backing.

Image source, Reuters

There are about 50 flares going off in the away end. Who searches people at games?! 

Image source, AFP

Saint-Etienne paid about £385,000 to sign Florentin Pogba. Which is what Paul tips his window cleaner at Christmas. 

The away fans are making all the noise. 

Man Utd: Romero, Valencia, Smalling, Bailly, Blind, Mata, Ander Herrera, Fellaini, Martial, Pogba, Ibrahimovic. Subs: de Gea, Rojo, Lingard, Young, Rashford, Schweinsteiger, Darmian.

St Etienne: Ruffier, Malcuit, Perrin, Theophile-Catherine, Pogba, Jorginho, Veretout, Pajot, Monnet-Paquet, Saivet, Hamouma. Subs: Moulin, Lacroix, Roux, Selnaes, Lemoine, Beric, Pierre Gabriel.

Referee: Pavel Kralovec (Czech Republic)

Image source, PA

Here come the sides, United skippered by Chris Smalling. The Pogba brothers have both gone big on the haircut front, they embrace with a complicated handshake.

Florentin in fact says hello to most of the United XI. He must have been over for a few nights out. 

Image source, Rex Features

The Gent players celebrate as if they have won the cup - it was a poor Spurs display and they will have to pull it out of the bag in the second leg.

Jose Mourinho also said that he expects Saint-Etienne to sit very deep and try and stay in the tie with a second leg to come.

Their fans - all standing up - are making a hell of a din. As they have been all day in the centre of Manchester. 

Image source, Rex Features