United Sweep Aside Brave Cobblers

On We Go...
By Chris O'Brien
January 25 2004

Manchester United swept aside Third Division side Northampton Town to secure a place in the last 16 of the F.A Cup. The Cobblers put in a brave performance, but the result was rarely in doubt with United dominating possession throughout the 90 minutes.

Manchester United avoided the potential banana skin Cup tie with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Northampton Town, with Sir Alex Ferguson's slightly below strength United side putting in a professional performance to sweep aside the spirited Third Division strugglers.

The visitors were without inspirational duo Ruud Van Nistelrooy and Roy Keane, and travelling fans may have feared a complacent attitude by Ferguson as the team took to the field. Roy Carroll was given the nod ahead of Tim Howard between the sticks, and Ryan Giggs was also left out of the starting line-up with the two-pronged strike partnership of Diego Forlan and David Bellion looking anything but prolific. However, the team put in an assured performance and fully deserve their place in the last 16 of the Cup.

The gulf between the two sides can be easily explained by listing the two squads activities during the week. United enjoyed a weeks training holiday in Dubai, where several players invested in luxury holiday homes in the hot holiday destination. Meanwhile, back in Northampton, the Cobblers were in action with their LDV Vans Cup run coming to an end with defeat against Colchester United with the home side throwing away a 2-goal lead. 4,034 in an attendance on the cold, wet Tuesday night, but it was nothing short of a full-house at the Sixfields for this Cup encounter.

All the ingredients that you tend to get with FA Cup upsets were not present at the Sixfields on this Sunday afternoon. The Northampton pitch was of a high quality, and looked better than Old Trafford does most of the time. The atmosphere was not a hostile one either, with the part-timer Cobblers supporters who packed the small ground rarely getting on the back of their household name opponents. The 1,200 travelling United fans out-sung the home support for the majority of the game, and despite a couple of nervous moments for the Champions, the expected result was rarely in doubt.

United came out with an attacking edge to their game, obviously looking to get the early goal that would suck the bulldog spirit out of their opponents. The golden opportunity came only three minutes into the game when Cristiano Ronaldo fell in the box, and referee Steve Bennett adjudged that the Portuguese wonder-kid was pushed by Town's Chris Carruthers. Contact looked minimal but little hesitation was given in awarding the penalty. Diego Forlan stepped up, but his spot-kick was weak and it was saved well by the impressive Steve Harper in the Cobblers goal, and cleared away for a corner.

The missed penalty worked as a boost to the hosts who started to put some pressure on the Red Devils, with pint-size forward Derek Asamoah looking the most likely source for an equaliser. Nevertheless, United dominated possession throughout the half and the pace going forward from Ronaldo and Bellion kept the home defence on their toes. The absence of Ruud Van Nistelrooy though meant United lacked the extra cutting edge up front which was why United failed to convert the majority of the high number of chances created.

The deadlock was finally broken on 34 minutes with a scrappy goal from wing-back Mikael Silvestre, but no before Northampton's danger-man Asamoah caused real panic amongst the United ranks. The Ghana-born attacker had a shot blocked by 'keeper Roy Carroll, who had to rush off his line to block the shot which was heading towards the goal.

United's opener was created through some good work down the left flank from Quinton Fortune. The South African went on a mazy run before sending in a cross that feel into the path of Cristiano Ronaldo. The teenager sent a weak shot at goal, but the Northampton defence failed to clear the rebounded effort, and Mikael Silvestre slid the ball home from close range to the relief of the team and the Red Devils fans.

Northampton came out for the second-half knowing they were still very much in the tie, but they suffered a major set-back only moments into the latter period with Chris Hargreaves putting the ball into his own net. It was hard-luck for Northampton, and would have ruined the Cup clash for neutrals who would have still given the Cobblers a chance of getting back into the game before the second goal, despite the 81 Football League places separating them and their more illustrious opponents. The own-goal killed off any chance of a home victory, and United played with much more confidence reassured by the two goal cushion.

To their credit, the brave Northampton side still battled on in search of a goal and it was the woodwork than came to the rescue of United just after the hour-mark, with Marc Richard seeing his dipping shop rebound back off the crossbar.

The result was put beyond doubt with little more than twenty minutes left thanks to yet another scrappy Manchester United goal. Diego Forlan made amends for his penalty miss in the early minutes of the game by bundling home the winning goal. Cristiano Ronaldo was to thank for heading the ball back across the goal mouth to Forlan, and the Uruguayan made no mistake from close range, scoring in front of his own supporters.

You would have been forgivven for thinking that Northampton's heads would drop as the third goal went in, however anybody hoping for a repeat of the 8-goals scored by United on their last visit to Northampton were left disappointed as Town's defence stood strong in the closing exchanges. The visitors even created another opportunity themselves with Asamoah's free-kick going through the wall and clipping Roy Carroll's posts, but some impressive saves from the Ulsterman made sure of a clean sheet.

Overall it was a pleasing display from United, who didn't take the world by storm with their efforts but did enough to beat the valiant lower league opponents. Northampton Town can be equally pleased with their display, and can hold their heads up high as they get back to league action next weekend, with their 'keepers performance very notable. United now go into the hat for Monday's draw which is made at the traditional time of 1.30pm, with derby matches against Liverpool or Manchester City, or a repeat of last years round 5 clash against Arsenal all possibilities.

Full Time - Northampton Town 0-3 Manchester United

Northampton Town: Harper, Reid, Sampson, Willmott, Carruthers (Chambers 51), Lyttle, Hargreaves, Lincoln (Harsley 72), Smith, Asamoah, Reeves (Richards 45).
Subs Not Used: Thompson, Vieira.

Manchester United: Carroll, O'Shea, Brown, Silvestre (Bardsley 72), Fortune (Pugh 89), Bellion, Fletcher, Butt, Scholes (Richardson 72), Ronaldo, Forlan.
Subs Not Used: Howard, Keane.