Northampton currently sit 14th in the Third Division, and despite some big summer spending their hopes of being promoted straight back into the Second Division appear to have landed on stony ground. Still, because this is the F.A Cup, the Northampton Town team and players will fancy their chances tomorrow, even though 81 positions separate them from us in the Football League.

However, what is not glorious about this potential banana skin Cup tie is Northampton's ridiculous decision to charge £35 for tickets. As ManUtdWeb previously reported, Manchester United have given the 1,200 travelling supporters a fantastic gesture by paying £10 towards every ticket sold, but this shouldn't have been needed with the Cobblers simply using the high-profile tie to get greedy. A full house will, of course, pack the Sixfields, but many of these do not usually bother to watch their local side, and to use the chant are only coming to see United!

All the attention will be on Northampton Town tomorrow. The spotlight will fall on Sixfields, and other than United fans the whole of Britain will be cheering on the 'under-dogs'. It's the sort of thing you only get in Cup competitions, and in a way I love it and in another I hate it, because you know full well that Sky are unlikely to bother with Northampton Town again until the next big fixture comes along.

Still, it's all set to be a picturesque Cup tie and it will show if Sir Alex Ferguson has got the Bulldog Spirit into the more recent arrivals to the Old Trafford squad, who may not have been involved in a fixture such as this before. You wouldn't imagine this is the sort of game or the quality of pitch which Cristiano Ronaldo would relish!

If you ask United fans to tell you something about tomorrow's opponents, you'd probably get the same answer from the majority of supporters! That they once got beaten 8-2 by United! This is correct, it was back in 1970 in an F.A Cup tie with George Best netting 6 of the goals in a game that still lives long in the memory of many United fans. Hopefully a similar scoreline will be produced tomorrow, but I some how doubt it!

The home team will have to battle United without the services of former Cardiff City midfielder Josh Low, who has a foot injury and will also be without Paul Trollope, who is suspended. So that means Derek Asamoah gets a chance of a life-time to play against United up-front with the Cobbler's top goalscorer Martin Smith.

As for United, Rio Ferdinand and Phil Neville are both unfortunately suspended for this fixture so Wes Brown and Nicky Butt are likely to fill their boots. 

Ruud van Nistelrooy, Roy Keane, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs are all expected to be on the bench for the Red Devils and the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Diego Forlan, Darren Fletcher and Kleberson are all likely to start and take their place in the XI.

Manchester United are clear favourites, being placed at 1/8 by Ladbrokes. But you can get a good but unlikely bet on Northampton progressing to the next stage. They've been placed at 14/1. 

One to Watch - Martin Smith
Smith, 30, is a former Sunderland striker who can cause damage to any defence. He is the Cobbler's top goalscorer so far this season and will be a potent threat to United.

ManUtdWeb Prediction - Northampton 0 - 2 Manchester United
Despite being away from home, I think United will dominate the game with all the quality they possess and will make life difficult for the home side. Providing United show Town the respect they deserve, United should be able to comfortably beat their Third Division rivals. 2-0 away win, with a Van Nistelrooy penalty and a Paul Scholes tie blocking the potential shock headlines, that would be rammed down the throats of Red supporters for years to come!

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