Football story by Boris Webb, Tue, 06 Dec 2005 03:24:00 GMT


It is not everyday that a coach relishes the prospect of taking on the might of Manchester United. Burton boss Nigel Clough is banking on exactly this scenario in the FA Cup.

Last night's draw for the third round matches pits Burton Albion against Manchester United provided they end up winners on the re-arranged second-round match against Burscough on Tuesday. "The incentive for us now is incredible. But no-one at our club is getting ahead of themselves. I do not even want my players thinking about United," said Clough adding that they first had to overcome Burscough if they were to dream of the home game against the world's best-known soccer club.

The match against these two teams was scheduled to take place on Saturday at Burton's Pirelli Stadium, but had to be postponed because of a waterlogged pitch. The prospect of facing United should spur both teams to give their best on Tuesday.

Even Burscough are dreaming to a one-to-one with United. Burscough chairman Chris Lloyd was ecstatic about the possibility, but was in two minds if the match would take place on home turf at Victoria Park of at Anfield in Liverpool, "It is a difficult one - we would love to play it here at Victoria Park and we will do everything we can do to make that happen because that is what the FA Cup is about. But unfortunately it will not be our decision - we will be in the hands of the relevant authorities," Lloyd told Sky News in an interview.

FA Cup Third Round Draw

West Bromwich Albion v Reading
Fulham v Leyton Orient
Brighton & Hove Albion v Coventry City
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Plymouth Argyle
Port Vale or Bristol Rovers v Doncaster Rovers
Sheffield Wednesday v Charlton Athletic
Torquay United v Birmingham City
Manchester City v Scunthorpe United
Newcastle United v Mansfield Town
Luton Town v Liverpool
Preston North End v Crewe Alexandra
Stoke City v Tamworth
Derby County v Burnley
Southampton v Milton Keynes Dons
Blackburn Rovers v Queens Park Rangers
Arsenal v Cardiff City
Stockport County v Oldham Athletic or Brentford
Norwich City v West Ham United
Ipswich Town v Portsmouth
Wigan Athletic v Leeds United
Sunderland v Woking or Northwich Victoria
Chelsea v Huddersfield Town
Cheltenham Town or Oxford Utd v Chester City
Leicester City v Tottenham Hotspur
Watford v Bolton Wanderers
Sheffield United v Colchester United
Nuneaton Borough or Histon v Middlesbrough
Hull City v Aston Villa
Barnsley or Bradford City v Walsall
Burton Albion or Burscough v Manchester Utd
C Palace v Stevenage B or Northampton Town
Millwall v Everton

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