Magic of the Cup

By Chris,
February 3 2011

Football Conference high-flyers Crawley Town will visit Old Trafford in the fifth round of the F.A Cup. Crawley reached the last sixteen of the competition after dumping out Torquay United at Plainmoor. They are the first non-league club to reach this stage of the Cup in 17 years.

Crawley Town are favourites to win promotion to the Football League this season and have lost only one non-league away fixture since the season began.

They reached the fifth round following a hard-fought win at Torquay; having already dumped Newport County, Guiseley, Swindon Town and Derby County out of the competition.

Other notable fifth round ties will see Leyton Orient hosting London rivals Arsenal and Burnley travelling to West Ham United.

"We'll treat it as just any other away game," smirked Crawley manager Steve Evans.

He added: "But we are going to play the biggest club in the world with the best manager in my lifetime. It will be an absolute honour”.

United have had some difficult moments against non-league outfits in years gone by.

Exeter City and Burton Albion both claimed famous goalless draws at the Theatre of Dreams, with United eventually winning tricky replays.

United will be massive favourites - but, should Sir Alex Ferguson make big changes to his XI, the Red Devils must be warned loud and clearly against complacency. Bring on Crawley.