Match Preview
Preston North End face Manchester United for the first time in 43 years as the two sides, currently separated by 44 league places, square up in the final 5th round tie of this year’s FA Cup. League One side Preston have overcome Havant & Waterlooville, Shrewsbury, Norwich and Sheffield United to set up this mega-bucks clash, whilst United, who received byes to the third round because of their Premier League status, have dispatched Yeovil and Cambridge United thus far.
Despite facing lower league opposition in both of the previous rounds in their FA Cup run, Manchester United have looked far from comfortable on either occasion, even needing a replay to triumph over League Two Cambridge. United’s shortcomings this season will no doubt give encouragement and belief to their hosts tomorrow night, whose manager, Simon Grayson, will know all about FA Cup upsets. Grayson was the Leeds manager in 2010 when a solitary Jermaine Beckford goal put Manchester United out of the FA Cup at the 3rd round stage. It was the first time United had lost at that stage of the cup - or been knocked out by lower-league opposition - and Grayson will be eager to repeat a similar feat again.
The FA Cup has hardly been a favourite competition for Manchester United in recent years, who, despite being the joint-most successful side in the oldest cup competition in the world (with 11 successes), have failed to win it since 2004, reaching the final only twice. They have come close but often fallen at the final hurdles, with a semi-final defeat to local rivals Manchester City in 2011 and a extra-time winner from Chelsea’s Didier Drogba in 2007’s final springing to mind.
This season’s cup, however, has been made a priority by manager Louis van Gaal, who knows the importance of the confidence that a long cup run will bring, especially given United’s lack of European football this campaign. It remains the Red Devils’s only real hope of silverware this season, and so becomes of utmost importance given United’s trophy-less campaign last time around, as two seasons without an honour simply wouldn’t do for a club United’s size. With Arsenal and Liverpool the only top-half Premier League sides remaining in this year’s competition, United may never get a better opportunity to end their FA Cup drought.
Team News
It seems fitting that both the manager and goalscorer involved in Leeds’ shock victory over United in 2010 are on the opposing side again tomorrow, but Jermaine Beckford will not be the hero this time around, with the striker forced to miss the match due to an ear infection. Daniel Johnson is cup-tied whilst first choice goalkeeper, Sam Johnstone, also cannot feature as he is on loan from the visitors.
For Manchester United, Michael Carrick remains sidelined with a calf injury whilst Phil Jones and Daley Blind may not be risked after coming off early in United’s midweek 3-1 victory over Burnley. There is also doubts over Robin van Persie (unspecified) and Rafael (match fitness), but Luke Shaw is set to return from suspension.