Louis van Gaal hailed a “committed” Manchester United performance as they swept aside Shrewsbury Town to set up an FA Cup quarter-final at home against West Ham United and, in the process, enjoyed a timely confidence boost before Thursday’s crucial Europa League second-leg last-32 match against Midtjylland. Chris Smalling scored United’s first and Juan Mata got the second with a contentious free-kick routine that Van Gaal claimed they had learned from watching Midtjylland. Jesse Lingard, Ander Herrera and Anthony Martial all stood offside initially, behind the Shrewsbury wall, before running out as Mata approached the ball. Lingard got United’s other goal on an evening that could hardly have been more comfortable for Van Gaal’s team, as they dominated against a Shrewsbury side who are 21st in League One and never looked like imposing themselves. “I think the performance was very good,” said Van Gaal. “I said that already at half-time to my players. They were very committed, they performed our game plan very well and the consequences were we were ahead 2-0 at half-time – a lucky goal from Smalling I think but a very good free-kick from Mata.” Asked specifically about Mata’s goal and the strange position that the…