SIR Alex Ferguson has admitted Burton Albion's amazing FA Cup draw with Manchester United was good news for football, even if it left the Scot squirming in his seat for the second season running.
Twelve months after the Red Devils were held by Exeter, Ferguson watched on as his multi-talented side again failed to overcome Conference opposition fully 104 places below them in the pyramid system.
Nigel Clough's part-timers were well worth their draw, which booked them a January 18 trip to Old Trafford, and a £500,000 pay-day.
And, after the heroics of Burton's fellow non-leaguers Nuneaton and Tamworth 24 hours earlier, Ferguson feels the Conference sides have put the fun back into the FA Cup again.
"We didn't want a replay and I didn't expect one but there is nothing wrong with the result as far as football is concerned," claimed Ferguson.
"Over the previous couple of years the FA Cup had gone a bit flat in terms of shocks but the Conference clubs have really made the FA Cup this year.
"Tamworth and Nuneaton had already done the FA Cup proud and Burton worked their socks off to get the result.
Lifeline
"The money will give Burton a lifeline, just as it did for Exeter last year, but the most important thing from our point of view is that we are still in the competition."
New signing Nemanja Vidic made the journey to Staffordshire with his new team-mates, although what the £7million Serbian made of the Pirelli Stadium experience is anyone's guess.
Right from the start, Burton served notice they would be no pushovers and had Phil Bardsley not been on hand to clear headers from Jon Shaw and Darren Stride off the line, the Brewers would have been in front at the break.
The introduction of Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo off the bench just before the hour mark briefly looked like easing United towards victory.
But it was not until the final minute, when Saul Deeney superbly turned away Ritchie Jones' thunderous effort, that the home goal was seriously threatened.
He may only be in the formative stages of his own managerial career, but the manner of Burton's performance and the result would have made Clough's late father Brian proud.
Windfall
And while chairman Ben Robinson will be rubbing his hands in glee at the unexpected windfall about to come Burton's way, for Clough the experience of leading a team into battle at Old Trafford is the bigger thrill.
"I don't know how much this will mean to the club in financial terms but if you had seen the look on my players' faces at the end, you would realise it will mean an awful lot more for them just to get the chance to play at Old Trafford," said Clough.
"I was in the Nottingham Forest side that beat United in the FA Cup at Old Trafford in 1989 but we have absolutely no chance of doing that.
"We will lose the replay I am sure but I am equally sure my players will enjoy that occasion even more than this one.
"For a group of part-time lads to get a 0-0 draw with Manchester United is staggering."
Can Burton cause and upset at Old Trafford? Have your say.
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Sir Alex's reaction said everything about how far we've fallen. He and we are now so used to our being unable to beat NO-LEAGUE players that he seemed relieved rather than angry! Was this the same man who tore into his Aberdeen team after they'd just WON the Scottish cup? He has every right to be disappointed in young men, who he has made millionaires and who have given nothing in return. In turn I am disappointed in him for allowing it to happen. I'm amazed he cannot find mid-fielders better than what we've got because the cupboard is absolutely bare. O'Shea continually passing the ball 5 yards on that pitch had to be seen to be believed!
We drew on a bad pitch but didn't pick up any injuries. Clearly we will go through to the next round and there is no reason why we can't do just as well in the FA cup as we did last year. If we lose the final on penalies after outplaying the other side I will be happy enough.
The side we played suffered from inexperienced players but at the end of the day we are no worse off than what happened with Exeter.
Would you really have been happy with starting the match with Rooney etc and picking up a few injuries ?
Can this be the same magnanimous Ferguson who is perpetually whingeing. It looks as if United are about to depart another competition.Looks like Uniteds future is safe with all this great new talent coming through.
Fascinating. The result, Uniteds gameplan (throwing the ball forward at every opportunity) and the comment from Brian of Blackpool. If you don't like 5 yard passes you must be relieved of Keanes destiny? However, you dont seem to understand the role of central midfielders in the modern game. I wish Utd would double the amount of 5 yard passes in every game, I think they rely on the creative pass too deep in their own territory. It is understandable though, that they pursue such a plan against a non-league outfit on a bympy pitch.
Well Jeff , it sure doesn't take much to keep you happy then does it!! I certainly won't be happy at yet another failed campaign, culminating in another hapless performance in front of goal! How much more embarrassmnet can Ferguson bring to Unnited supporters this season? He learnt nothing from the Exeter debacle. Start wth a strong team, whoever you are playing, get into a good position and then bring the youngsters on. What's he saving the big names for? Or is coming second now more important than actually winning something? And the squad clearly isn't good enough - Saha, O'Shea, Brown and Silvestre were the worse performers and they are supposedly experienced! Pique was the only shining light!
To the guy from Sweden re my ignorance of midfield play and the 5 yard pass. It obviously has its place , but my point is, on that pitch? This was compounded by the poorness of the first touch. Yes possession is everything but not when you are a failed centre half,failed fullback pretending to be a centre midfielder. It was tantamount to just giving possession away.
Grow up the lot of you. This is what football is about and why people love the FA cup. Are we the only team to be embarrassed this way this year or in previous years?. If you can't take the heat, stay out of the kitchen or take your fair weather support elsewhere.
I'd just like to respectfully point out to the MEN that the football league isn't a pyramid system, it's a ladder.
Lets be cynical for a momment. The glazers will be happy, think of all the extra money that they will recieve, should please the banks
'Fergie hails Conference Class'? Now there's a headline I never thought I'd read after Barcelona in 99! How about 'Tinkerbell strikes again'? That would be more appropriate. Anyone in doubt about how dire this result and Fergie's misjudgement is need only take a look at the fixture list to the right. We now face 4 fixtures in 10 days with 2 local derbies and a League Cup semi-final as well as a replay that would never have happened if Ferguson had learnt his lesson from Exeter last year. The man has become a liability.
Sorry Brian of Blackpool, I mistook your comments. Personally I think Fletcher and JOS get too much stick, it's just too easy to ridicule them by superficial standards. Too many seem to judge a midfielder by the rate and elegance of dribbles. When Keane bossed the play, United had posession in long periods on the oppositions half. Keane did that by 5 yard passes. But that seems to be a lost strategy/ability.
How many more humiliations can SAF's career stand?
Now he is just glad still to be in the Cup after meeting a Conference side.
He always says he trusts his players. Does he still trust those he sent out yesterday? Does he trust the mostly different set he put out against Lille and Benfica?
Does he trust his own judgement any more?
The evidence is now that his judgement has gone.
Whether it is threatening legal action against Cubic Expression, appointing family members to positions of influence at the club, wasting fortunes in transfer funds and overseeing a massively expensive Acadamy that is only good at producing free transfers for the lower leagues.
How many mistakes are acceptable before action is taken?
Overall his record is great. But so was Cloughs until relegation.The past is not always a reliable guide to the future.
It is the Owners and Board's responsibility to know when change is necessary. At 65 next birthday it is too late to give SAF the benefit of the many doubts that have grown around his decision making over the last few years.
To the Wiltshire Exile - don't be so insulting! You are allowed to be critical if you feel it is justified without being accused of being a fair weather supporter! I have had a season ticket for 27 years and hardly miss a match. And I don't watch through rose-tinted glasses!!! Fergusin has a tremedous record, of course he does, but that doesn't mean he is forever beyond critiicism.
To the "We should win every 10 nil every match brigade" Yes it was Burton Albion of the Conference, but you could almost sense they would get a draw...the pitch was an absolute shambles and I dont care how good a player you are you cannot anticipate the ball bobbling etc. I think its great that Burton have earned a replay and that some of the rediculous amount of money in football will be shared out to the likes of burton and nuneaton. Utd will coast the replay....but I am sure all the whingers on hear will find something to moan about.
clough is playing this perfectly...saying his team has no chance....taking all the pressure off his team and putting it all on United...now he'll convince his guys to hold their nerve for the first 30 minutes of the game and if they do, he'll have ManU's players searching for answers...if SAF changes his first team, then Burton Albion players will open with a tremendous boost because the smell on the pitch won't be fresh grass it will be fear - ManU afraid to play the same side who were clearly beaten...so let united believe it was a fluke result....it wasn't and United will have their hands full at Old Trafford...since mick from dublin believes it was a good learning experience i'm sure he believes the same side should play again to reinforce and learn more from the replay...I'm sure Fergie's listening mick....your comments are so enlightening that i hear you are in line for a promotion from most diplomatic site contributor to trash bin collector at Old Trafford...