The Magic of the Cup - Burton Albion or Burscough!
By Chris O'Brien
December 7 2005
Manchester United face a third round F.A Cup trip to either Burton Albion or Burscough. The non-league minnows do battle in a second round replay at the Pirelli Stadium on Tuesday evening with the winners hosting Sir Alex Ferguson's side in January.

Minnows Burton Albion and Burscough will entertain Manchester United in an F.A Cup third round draw that has taken the back page headlines.

The two non-league sides meet in a replay this week and the game now boasts mammoth importance. The winners will host United, losing finalists last season, in a game that could have a dramatic affect on the very future of the respective club.

United kicked-off last season's F.A Cup campaign against opposition from outside of the Football League. Exeter City visited Old Trafford with few predicting an upset, but a weakened Red Devils line-up could only manager a 0-0 draw before the big guns won a replay in Devon. Burton Albion and Burscough will be hoping to emulate the achievements of the Grecians last season.

ManUtdWeb takes a quick look at the two teams who meet in Burton on Tuesday evening:

Burton Albion - United are no strangers to the Brewers. The two teams met in friendly action only a couple of weeks ago. The game was organised to celebrate the opening of the club's new Pirelli Stadium. The impressive ground boasts a capacity of 6,065 and it was full to witness a seriously under-strength United 'XI' go down 2-1. A re-match in the F.A Cup would undoubtedly be a very different affair. Nigel Clough's Conference side are currently placed 14th in the Conference and boast the cup scalp of Peterborough United. They will be heavy favourites for Tuesday's replay.

Burscough - F.A Trophy Winners in 2003, the Lancastrian side are the lowest placed team left in the F.A Cup competition. They currently sit 3rd, within the play-off slots, of the Northern Premier League which is some six divisions below the Premiership. They play their home games at Victoria Park, a small ground holds a modest capacity of only 3,000 with just 250 seats. It sounds perfect for a cup tie, but knowing the modern-day game the money-men would dictate a switch to Old Trafford should Burscough win Tuesday's replay. Managed by Derek Goulding, the club have knocked-out Ashton United, Droylsden, Workington Town, Hucknall Town and Gillingham during a glorious cup run.

With Chelsea still out of sight at the top of the Premiership and United's future in the Champions League looking precarious, the F.A Cup is a vitally important competition for supporters this season. The club have qualified for the quarter-finals of the League Cup already, and there can be no excuses when United travel to the Midlands or to near-by Burscough in the New Year.

The game is the highlight of another exciting third round draw. Holders Arsenal host Championship side Cardiff City, whilst Luton Town await the visit of European Champions Liverpool. Placed 92nd in the Football League, Torquay United must look to overcome Birmingham City whilst Nuneaton Borough or Histon do battle in a replay with the visitors being rewarded with hosting Middlesbrough. You just cannot beat it.

The complete draw, with ties taking place weekend of 7/8 January, is as follows:

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

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