David 1 Goliath 0

The giant scoreboard showed that 0-0 was the final result. No, I am not talking about a Premier League game between Arsenal and Manchester United at Highbury. It was a 3rd round FA Cup game between Burton Albion and Manchester United at the Pirelli Stadium. Burton what? Yes, not just for non-football fan but to football enthusiast Burton Albion is not a name familiar to many of us.


Burton Albion came into the limelight when they booked their 3rd round FA Cup clash with United after beating fellow non-leaguers Burscough back in December. Burton is managed byNigel Clough, the son of the legendary Forest manager, Brian Clough. When Burton won the game, the odds where against them and everyone was predicting a landslide win for Manchester United, one of the top team in the world. A team of teachers, policemen, postmen or a local bartender who plays football part time does not really match up to professional players who earned £40,000-50,000 a week. Well, the end result of the game just proved to everyone that passion and determination can win u match anytime.


Looking at the United team sheet, it was more like a reserved team were being put out on the field. Wes Brown, John O’Shea and Saha were the only first team regulars while youngsters were filling up the rested players with the likes of Gerard Pique and Phil Bardsley in the defence, Ritchie Jones in the midfield and Giuseppe Rossi upfront. The absent of Neville mean Ole Gunnar Solksjaer who started his first game after almost 2 ½ season out with a serious knee injuries was the captain for the day. Although the team were a pale comparison of the regular squad but there were enough quality in the team to win the match and book United place in the 4th round but obviously Burton had other ideas.


From the kick off, Burton looked more like the team that can win the match. Brown and Pique were having torrid times trying to hold off Gilroy and Harrad who were terrorizing with their runs. United looked more like a conference league team than Burton. Ole was ineffective in almost the entire game when he was on and obviously he was still far away of being match fit. Jones was not the creative play maker needed to break down a tight and discipline Burton defence. Saha and Rossi were struggling to get a pass to do any damage. The condition of the pitch made it even harder for United to play their usual passing game and they have to opt for long balls to get any move going but that should not be a reason for a group of professionals to play badly. At the end of the first half, it was a moral victory for a Burton side who could have gone 2 goals up if not for the clearance on the line by Bardsley who worked his socks off for the team.


I was expecting a different performance by United after some “hair-drying” reminders from the gaffer. United started the half by trying to imposed themselves on the pitch with their passing but again on a sub-standard pitch, it was a hard objective to accomplish. Burton continued their pressing and with the minutes ticking away, the team grew more in confidence. United were chasing and struggling to keep up with the pace of the game as the ball failed to reach the final third of the field. An hour of the game passed when the gaffer realized he needed his big names to up the tempo or get humiliated. Out came Rossi and Ole and in came the 2Rs….Rooney and Ronaldo. Within the 1st minute of their introduction, United were almost one up but Saha threw the chance away with a miss kick. Burton were suddenly chasing and United were having it their way. As the time ticked away, Burton were having 10 men inside their half with Deeney have to save shots by Rooney and Saha and were also reduced to counter attacks. But with United pouring themselves upfront to get that all important goal there were times when United were left wanting at the back. Pique, Brown and Bardsley did a fantastic job in holding off the attacks.


Chances after chances came United way but all were in vain. United were lucky when a handball appeal on Pique was waived off for a foul on him and a deflected shot by Gilfroy did not have the power to guide it past Howard. The best chance for a winner for United came in the injury time when Ritchie Jones was denied by Burton’s keeper Deeney trailing legs when it was on its way in. That would be a cruel blow to a memorable and spirited performance by the non-leaguers. When the whistle was blown to mark the end of the game, the stadium exploded into cheers. Nigel was congratulated and smiling, the team were hugging each other and the fans were crying. Even United fans in the stadium were applauding their opponent but at the same time feeling disappointed and frustrated with the showing of their stars.


It was a game nobody would expect any different scenario. United strolling through another easy victory over a conference league team and it should be a damage limitation exercise for Burton. After 90 minutes of an exciting and pulsating football game, the scoreboard and the reaction of the stadium showed a different ending. It was the same last year with Exeter City although they stumbled in the replay when United pull out all the big guns. It might be the same case for Burton at Old Trafford in a couple of weeks but today it is Burton’s day. Today passion and spirit overcome big money. It may be a draw but for a team like Burton, it was the pinnacle for some of the players that they will tell to their children and grandchildren… the day a postman stop Wayne Rooney from scoring a goal.


Will the fairy tale continue for Burton Albion or will Goliath triumph in the 2nd battle? Neutrals and fairy tale lovers would definitely welcome a Burton win at The Theatre of Dreams but with the likes of Nistelrooy, Scholes, Giggs and a determined Rooney coming into the team, I personally don’t think it will be another upset. United will once again adopt their passing game and that would be hard for Burton to handle. I predict a win for United maybe a 2-0 or 3-0 win but Burton should be proud of their achievement and build on their new found confidence and also the shared profit they will get from the replay at Old Trafford.