Manchester United were dumped out of the FA Cup on penalties by Fulham as their miserable season took another turn for the worse.
Bernd Leno was Fulham’s hero in the shoot-out as the goalkeeper made successive saves from Victor Lindelof and Joshua Zirkzee to send his side into the quarter-finals.
United trailed when Calvin Bassey scored on the cusp of half-time as Fulham became the latest side to expose their opponent’s vulnerability at set pieces. Andreas Pereira swung in a corner that was flicked on by Rodrigo Muniz to Bassey to head in at the far post.
Bruno Fernandes drew United level in the 71st minute with a fine finish from Diogo Dalot’s pull back. Andre Onana made two good saves to deny Emile Smith-Rowe before United spurned a number of chances deep in stoppage time. Substitute Chido Obi should probably have gone down after being pulled back by Bassey but elected to stay on his feet and shot wide from close range and the 17-year-old almost scored a winner in the 10th minute of stoppage time only for Leno to tip his shot over the bar.
Onana made a good save to thwart Ryan Sessegnon in extra-time before the game went to penalties. Each team scored their first three spot kicks but Lindelof missed United’s fourth penalty with Leno saving and then repeating the trick against Zirkzee after Antonee Robinson had coolly converted Fulham’s fourth penalty.
07:51 PM GMT
Marco Silva reacts
“You cannot achieve nothing so so important, A great place to come to play football... if you do not fight hard. In some moments we showed good quality... our identity was there. A bit better second half and in extra time than first half. After that we sorted some things at half-time and did things much better.
“The way the team played second half and all of extra time made me really proud. We were brave and we did it our way, I have to congratulate the players. The composure of our players, I love, it, the confidence of our players. We had our chances clear and I think overall with the game we deserve to be in the next stage.”
07:43 PM GMT
Ruben Amorim speaks after United’s FA Cup exit
“It’s hard. We managed to score in the second-half... then it’s harder for us to press a little bit high. We managed to do it, we scored. I think we had the best chances in the game. In the end the penalties can go both ways. It’s important to say that with the substitutions we had our chance to win the game.
“Sometimes the quality of the players, Bruno, Casemiro, Josh is improving a lot, is fighting a lot. It’s the quality of the players that help us create chances. The goal is to win the Premier League. I know that we are losing games and losing trophies this season but the goal is to win the Premier League. I don’t know how long it is going to take. If you think like that we can suffer a little but in this defeat, a lot sometimes.
“You start understanding the players are better, we understand better the league we know what to do with the squad. We will see in the future.”
07:34 PM GMT
Has Micah Richards lost his mind?
“All of the big teams, in inverted commas, are out now.”
What on earth are his former club Manchester City?! Sure, they are not in ‘a great moment’ but they are undeniably a big club. I think he probably forgot about them before he spoke. Mistakes are easy to make.
07:32 PM GMT
FA Cup quarter-final ties
Fulham vs Crystal Palace
Preston North End vs Aston Villa
Bournemouth vs Manchester City
Brighton vs Nottingham Forest OR Ipswich
Ties to be played between March 28 and March 31.
07:31 PM GMT
Brighton will face...
...either Nottingham Forest or Ipswich, who play tomorrow evening.
07:31 PM GMT
Bournemouth get a home tie...
....they will face Manchester City.
07:30 PM GMT
Preston North End out next...
They have a home tie against Aston Villa.
07:30 PM GMT
Fulham drawn out first...
They will face Crystal Palace.
07:29 PM GMT
Who is in the hat?
-
Preston North End
-
Aston Villa
-
Crystal Palace
-
Fulham
-
Brighton & Hove Albion
-
Bournemouth
-
Manchester City
-
Nottingham Forest OR Ipswich Town
07:27 PM GMT
Quarter final draw up now
Denis Irwin is there with Danny Murphy to do the honours.
07:26 PM GMT
Fulham keeper Leno speaks to BBC
“I think we deserve it to win it after 120 minutes but of course penalties is sometimes a lottery and luckily we won. The goalie coach told me a couple of information but I think my feeling is more important. Of course, I went the wrong way three times. Credit to our penalty takers as well. It’s not easy after 120 minutes. Credit to all of us.”
Can they go all the way?
“100 per cent,” he says.
07:22 PM GMT
FULHAM BEAT MAN UTD 4-3 ON PENALTIES!
Zirkzee misses! Leno saves! Fulham advance to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup!
Deserved? Hard to begrudge them. Nothing to separate the teams after so long. Always a difficult way to go out but get the job done in the first 120 minutes.
07:21 PM GMT
Robinson scores for Fulham!
Robinson side foots it mid-way down the left side of the goal. Do or die for United now.
Man Utd 3 Fulham 4
07:20 PM GMT
Lindelof misses for United!
Leno guesses right and it was not a convincing penalty!
Advantage Fulham.
Man Utd 3 Fulham 3
07:19 PM GMT
Willian scores for Fulham!
Willian delays his run up but waits and then calmly side-foots it into the right side of the net with Onana going the other way.
Level so far with no misses. None even close.
Man Utd 3 Fulham 3
07:19 PM GMT
Casemiro scores for United!
Casemiro matches what Berge does! Not quite as emphatic but still high into the roof of the net beyond Leno.
Man Utd 3 Fulham 2
07:18 PM GMT
Berge scores for Fulham!
No messing here! Roof of the net, nearing the top-left corner. Impossible to save.
Man Utd 2 Fulham 2
07:17 PM GMT
Dalot scores for United!
A funny sort of run-up but keeper goes to his left, Dalot slots it in towards his right and gives United the lead again.
Man Utd 2 Fulham 1
07:16 PM GMT
Jimenez scores for Fulham!
Jeers, lots of jeers from the Stretford End. Jimenez copies Fernandes’ penalty though and levels the shoot-out.
Man Utd 1 Fulham 1
07:15 PM GMT
Fernandes scores for United!
Sends Leno the wrong way and smashes it into the left side netting!
Man Utd 1 Fulham 0
07:13 PM GMT
Right, what will come of this
Drama one way or another. The coin is tossed and Bruno Fernandes opts to go first. Might he be the first taker for United?
07:10 PM GMT
FULL TIME EXTRA TIME: Man Utd 1 Fulham 1
United might have one last chance themselves. Dalot lining up a long throw from the left. Fulham clear, though and Willian charges into the United half but Casemiro hauls him down.
But that is full time in extra time.
Penalties it is.
07:08 PM GMT
29 mins (ET) - Man Utd 1 Fulham 1
Perhaps another chance for Fulham? Mazraoui fouls Jiminez on the edge of the box...
Willian looks keen over the ball. Well struck but straight at Onana.
07:07 PM GMT
27 mins (ET) - Man Utd 1 Fulham 1
I feel like Fulham will create a chance before the end of open play...
It nearly comes immediately, but Sessegnon’s touch in the box is just a little too heavy.
07:04 PM GMT
25 mins (ET) - Man Utd 1 Fulham 1
The game definitely stretched now as we enter the dying stages of extra time. Robinson fouls Zirkzee to break up United’s attack.
07:04 PM GMT
24 mins (ET) - Man Utd 1 Fulham 1
Obi wins a free kick after a Fulham corner, being held by Bassey. I say it again, he has been excellent since coming on. Has showed desire and has put himself in dangerous positions several times. Just hasn’t found the back of the net.
07:01 PM GMT
22 mins (ET) - Man Utd 1 Fulham 1
Intent from both sides here, so not a hint of getting to penalties.
Casemiro shoots from 22 yards out after being set up by Mazraoui. It is dragged wide and I think passing the ball would have been the better option anyway.
06:59 PM GMT
20 mins (ET) - Man Utd 1 Fulham 1
Sessegnon, just on, has a shot from the left side of the box about 12 yards out and Onana makes another great save to keep the scores level. Down to his left this time at the near post. Ball through from Willian.
06:58 PM GMT
18 mins (ET) - Man Utd 1 Fulham 1
The Stretford End are convinced that Casemiro was fouled on the edge of the box but the referee waves on. He was just about to pull the trigger...
United again start the half well.
06:55 PM GMT
16 mins (ET) - Man Utd 1 Fulham 1
Almost immediately there is a fine chance for Fulham, fashioned by Smith Rowe on the left. He drags it back for Reed, but it’s behind him and goes out for a goal kick. Doesn’t matter anyway because Smith Rowe was comfortably offside and flagged so.
06:54 PM GMT
KICK OFF
The second half of extra time is under way. Can someone – anyone? – find a goal?
06:51 PM GMT
ET HALF-TIME: Man Utd 1 Fulham 1
Still level...
06:51 PM GMT
15 min (ET) - Man Utd 1 Fulham 1
Just one minute added on this first half of extra time. United the better side since the full-time whistle.
Chido Obi again gets another chance! He sidefoots a shot towards goal from the left edge of the six-yard box but Leno flings out a left arm and it deflects over for a corner. As I said before, he has been excellent since coming on. He is just missing that goal.
06:48 PM GMT
13 min (ET) - Man Utd 1 Fulham 1
Zirkzee finds Obi on the turn in the box but he goes to ground before shooting. Andersen with the interception.Shouts for a penalty from the fans but no, great challenge. Obi has managed to get himself into a fair few threatening positions since he came on. Looks lively.
06:47 PM GMT
11 min (ET) - Man Utd 1 Fulham 1
Raul Jimenez catches Fernandes and United win a free-kick but a long way out. Heaven heads it wide for a corner.
06:45 PM GMT
8 min (ET) - Man Utd 1 Fulham 1
Garnacho again causing problems on the left but this time the man he passes to, Zirzkee, cannot find another red shirt. United come again with another find pass from Fernandes to Obi on the edge of the box but it cannons off his shin and away from his reach.
06:38 PM GMT
3min (ET) - Man Utd 1 Fulham 1
United begin the half in strong fashion. Casemiro finds Garnacho with a superbly waited ball. The Argentine runs onto the ball, gets into the box and fires from a tight angle towards goal but can only find the side-netting at the near post.
06:34 PM GMT
KICK-OFF!
30 minutes of extra time has begun... will we get a winner here? Or penalties?
06:34 PM GMT
A change for United
Harry Maguire off, 18-year-old Ayden Heaven on for United.
06:31 PM GMT
FULL-TIME: Man Utd 1 Fulham 1
A decent finish to the game here, though we are very close to heading into extra time. United counter attack... Zirkzee lifts one over the top to Garnacho who controls well but fires weakly at the Fulham keeper from 16 yards out. Should have done better.
United come again then have another sniff with Obi in the box but, yet again, he cannot quite direct it goalwards. Leno just making himself a nuisance enough.
It goes out for a goal kick and the full-time whistle follows shortly after...
We go to extra time.
06:27 PM GMT
90+7 mins - Man Utd 1 Fulham 1
Chido Obi with a great chance from the right side of the box! Bassey is all over him in the box, he goes to ground before getting back to his feet and firing wide across goal. Couldn’t quite direct it goalwards. Might have gone to ground there. There would have been an argument for a penalty but not sure how strong it was.
06:24 PM GMT
90+4 mins - Man Utd 1 Fulham 1
Smith Rowe again in acres of space on the edge of the box, accepts the ball from Iwobi and hits it first time, forcing Onana to make another fine save down to his right.
06:22 PM GMT
90+2 mins - Man Utd 1 Fulham 1
Who looks the more likely to score here? Toss a coin.
06:20 PM GMT
89 mins - Man Utd 1 Fulham 1
Zirkzee is fouled by Lukic and United have a free-kick in a dangerous position, just outside the left corner of the box. Fernandes takes it... and Maguire only glances it to goal and Leno claims easily.
Eight minutes of added time. Seems a lot.
06:16 PM GMT
86 mins - Man Utd 1 Fulham 1
Fulham have not really offered a great deal going forward since the United equaliser. Mind, you neither have United. The game has returned to its rather frustrating state after a lively five minutes. Playing for penalties?
06:14 PM GMT
84 mins - Man Utd 1 Fulham 1
Afraid I cannot help you out there, James. So much about this current United side is profoundly baffling.
06:14 PM GMT
Old Trafford frustrated
Help me out here. It’s 1-1, 10 minutes to go, United are at home and Onana is taking an age to take goal kicks, to the groans and frustration of United fans. It makes no sense whatsoever.
06:12 PM GMT
82 mins - Man Utd 1 Fulham 1
Play is stopped as Joachim Andersen gets one in the windpipe from Chido Obi. He’s fine but there was some concern initially.
06:12 PM GMT
80 mins - Man Utd 1 Fulham 1
United win a corner through some energetic work from Garnacho on the left flank. Hasn’t been a devestating substitution since he came on but does look a danger. As he so often is.
06:07 PM GMT
77 mins - Man Utd 1 Fulham 1
A bit of a mix-up at the back for United. Well, more De Ligt failing to clear a ball. Muniz is challenging and is nearly able to get his shot from close range away but Maguire sends it behind for a corner.
06:03 PM GMT
73 mins - Man Utd 1 Fulham 1
Antonee Robinson has a lot of time and a lot of space 24 yards out but his side-footed shot goes well over the United goal.
06:01 PM GMT
GOAL! United are level!
Garnacho finds Dalot on the left, who cuts the ball back to Bruno Fernandes in the box. He hits the ball first time with his left foot to fire into the opposite corner, rather brilliantly from about 15 yards out. Leno dives but cannot get there! It was a superbly struck shot.
Man Utd 1 Fulham 1
05:59 PM GMT
69 mins - Man Utd 0 Fulham 1
De Ligt makes a crucial challenge to stop Pereira getting a cross away from the byline. Has he injured himself sliding in? Looks like it as he clutches his shoulder. He is not moving freely.
05:58 PM GMT
68 mins - Man Utd 0 Fulham 1
Rasmus Hojlund makes way for compatriot Chido Obi, a signing from Arsenal earlier in the season.
05:56 PM GMT
66 mins - Man Utd 0 Fulham 1
If United do not find a goal here, this is looking like a limp and lame exit from the competition.
05:54 PM GMT
64 mins - Man Utd 0 Fulham 1
Some silky play for Fulham in the final third Smith Rowe and Pereira link up with the former having a shot from just outside the box. It’s a low one and forces Onana into making a fine save down low to his right. He claims the loose ball soon after. United struggling for the type of fluency that their opponents have just demonstrated.
05:51 PM GMT
61 mins - Man Utd 0 Fulham 1
Fernandes manages to fashion some space and work the ball back onto his right foot. He shoots from 25 yards out, inside of the boot, but again it is a comfortable save for the diving Leno.
05:49 PM GMT
59 mins - Man Utd 0 Fulham 1
No real notable change in intensity nor quality from United since those changes.
05:47 PM GMT
57 mins - Man Utd 0 Fulham 1
Dalot crosses into the box and finds Mazraoui. His header is a bit weak and into the ground, making an easy save for Bernd Leno. It shouldn’t even classify as a save in fairness.
05:44 PM GMT
Another damning statistic for United
Ludicrous United stat 1,094: This is the 19th game in which United have failed to score from open play in the first half.
05:42 PM GMT
52 mins - Man Utd 0 Fulham 1
Replays show Traore slid down the ramp at the edge of the Old Trafford pitch going for a ball. Looks like a knee injury but whether he sustained it before sliding downwards it is impossible to know.
A few substitutions about to happen. Garnacho and Lindelof will come on for the hosts whilst the ailing Traore is replaced by Smith Rowe. Who is coming off for United? It’s Ugarte (booked) and Yoro. Garnacho gets a good response.
05:40 PM GMT
49 mins - Man Utd 0 Fulham 1
Dalot tries to find Eriksen on the left but Andersen snuffs out any hope of a cross with some sharp defending. Hojlund would have been in there.
Adama Traore is down and Castagne heads the ball out.
05:37 PM GMT
47 mins - Man Utd 0 Fulham 1
Fulham begin the half as they ended the first one, with a corner. United defend this one better, though, Ugarte heading clear before Fulham come again. Yoro nearly misses his header but the flag goes up for offside by Castagne.
05:35 PM GMT
KICK-OFF!
The second half is under way at Old Trafford. United again need to come from behind. No changes for either side when it comes to personnel.
05:22 PM GMT
Troubles at the back... again
More set-piece defensive woe for United as Fulham take the lead in first half stoppage time from a corner. Muniz makes a clever run that United don’t react quickly enough to from Pereira’s corner and Bassey – who scored here in the Premier League last season – heads in ahead of Mazraoui near the back post.
05:20 PM GMT
HALF-TIME: Man Utd 0 Fulham 1
A few boos ring out at Old Trafford. Not exactly a chorus. United not terrible by any means but certainly not good. The same could be said of Fulham in fairness but they are ahead. A match low on quality but the deadlock has been broken.
05:19 PM GMT
GOAL! Fulham are ahead!
Pereira takes the corner from the right, a decision which Fernandes is furious about. It’s a decent out-swinging ball in, Muniz glances it down towards goal and Bassey finishes it off seven yards out! Poor defending from United there. Fulham just quicker to the ball and it was a well-taken header from Bassey there.
United behind again.
Man Utd 0 Fulham 1
05:15 PM GMT
Silva not happy on the touchline
Suffice to say Marco Silva has not been a happy bunny in this. Lots of head shaking, dropping to his haunches, swivelling around in frustration, that kind of thing. In truth, the game as a whole has been exceedingly low on quality. Both teams are struggling to put more than five meaningful passes together. Lots of unforced turnovers.
05:12 PM GMT
40 mins - Man Utd 0 Fulham 0
United’s turn for a chance. Fernandes whips one in, tries to find Zirzkee and succeeds but he cannot direct it goalwards. Fulham free-kick.
05:10 PM GMT
38 mins - Man Utd 0 Fulham 0
Iwobi finds Lukic bursting into the box with a superb aerial pass. He gets his head on it, free, and 10 yards out but he makes a mess of it, really and the ball sails wide. Should have done better but Fulham’s best chance of the game (and possibly the game overall) courtesy of a wonderful cross.
05:07 PM GMT
35 mins - Man Utd 0 Fulham 0
Well, the game started encouragingly but has been devoid of quality in the final third at both ends. Old Trafford feeling a degree of tension, dare I say.
05:05 PM GMT
32 mins - Man Utd 0 Fulham 0
Castagne crosses from the right. It’s not particularly dangerous but Onana makes a mess of what should have been a simple catch. Maguire wandered across his eyeline, yes, but luckily there were no white shirts close enough to take advantage of his spill.
There are audible groans from some United fans. He’s not exactly inspiring confidence at the moment, the United goalkeeper.
05:00 PM GMT
28 mins - Man Utd 0 Fulham 0
Eriksen takes the free-kick, probably 40 yards out. Maguire charges in to head it but is adjudged to have committed a foul. Few clear-cut chances at either end. United doing OK, Fulham defending well enough.
04:59 PM GMT
27 mins - Man Utd 0 Fulham 0
The Fulham free-kick comes to nothing. Well, it comes to a fairly wild shot from distance which is wide and high. United then win a free-kick with Pereira shown a booking for breaking down the United attack.
04:58 PM GMT
United fans vocal against Ratcliffe and the Glazers
The Stretford End are now going for Jim Ratcliffe in addition to the Glazers. “Just like the Glazers, Jim Ratcliffe’s a c---” got its first airing at Craven Cottage and United fans are at it again, quickly followed by “66 quid, you’re taking the p---” – in reference the controversial decision to hike up members ticket in mid-season with no concessions for young people or seniors.
“We want Glazers out” is another chant and on 20 minutes most of the ground stood up when chants of “Stand up if you hate Glazer” reverberated. Banners were paraded above the tunnel declaring “66 “Sell United and f--- off home” and “£66 your debt not ours”. United and Fulham fans also came together to back the FSA’s #stopexploitingloyalty campaign.
04:57 PM GMT
24 mins - Man Utd 0 Fulham 0
De Ligt gives the ball away, former United man Pereira charges forward towards the penalty box and is then fouled by Ugarte who clips him from behind. Fulham free-kick about 22 yards out. Ugarte booked, rightly so.
04:55 PM GMT
20 mins - Man Utd 0 Fulham 0
Dalot has been a persistent threat on the left but he makes a bit of a mess of this one. Or rather, he comes up against stout defence and cannot make the cross.
04:50 PM GMT
17 mins - Man Utd 0 Fulham 0
Dalot takes a throw quickly and Eriksen lets fly from just outside the left corner of the penalty area. It’s a well-struck shot but Leno palms it away comfortably enough with two hands. Fulham struggling to get a foothold in the game but they do look half-decent when they break.
United just shading it as it stands, though still level.
04:46 PM GMT
14 mins - Man Utd 0 Fulham 0
Eriksen on the left with a low cross to the near post... compatriot Hojlund is running in but cannot get his shot away. That would have been a hell of a finish from there, such a tight angle and with a defender on his back.
04:44 PM GMT
11 mins - Man Utd 0 Fulham 0
A couple of good chances for United. De Ligt with another 40-yard pinger from deep. The subsequent cross just cannot find Zirzkee’s head on the edge of the six-yard box. Fernandes then picks up the ball on the edge of the box and forces Leno into a save with a fizzing shot. United corner.
04:43 PM GMT
9 mins - Man Utd 0 Fulham 0
A bit more from Fulham. Antonee Robinson’s run is picked up and he manages to lift a shot, via a deflection, towards goal. No white shirts there and Onana claims easily again. Mazraoui just about making his lift too difficult to make much of the cross, though he was a bit slow initially.
04:38 PM GMT
7 mins - Man Utd 0 Fulham 0
Fulham’s first proper attack ends with a cross into the box that is a very, very easy take for Onana in goal.
04:37 PM GMT
6 mins - Man Utd 0 Fulham 0
Mostly United in the first five minutes or so. Dalot has a crack from just outside the box but he slips as he connects and the shot is blocked. It came after a pinger of a pass from De Ligt on the other side of the pitch.
04:35 PM GMT
3 mins - Man Utd 0 Fulham 0
Dalot with a cross from the left, Anderson clears on the full for a United throw. Both sides energetic from the off here, which is good to see.
04:32 PM GMT
KICK-OFF!
We are under way at Old Trafford. United get a free-kick within the first 10 seconds.
04:30 PM GMT
A reminder of the line-ups
04:27 PM GMT
Marco Silva, Fulham manager, on what the FA Cup means
“It’s very, very important for us. When I first spoke about it I said it is a very important competition for us. We have been showing that we are going to give our maximum to the competition and we want to be in the [latter] stage. We are playing against the team who won last season, but we are here to fight to play in the quarter finals.”
04:12 PM GMT
Amorim says United now on a clear path
It’s probably a long one, mind you...
“I see a clear path, and I see that from the board also. They are also doing difficult changes They are not popular but they are doing it because they have a vision.
“The good thing is we have a clear path. Now [it] is hard but we are doing things to achieve success in the future.”
03:57 PM GMT
Two enforced changes for United
United’s two changes from Wednesday’s 3-2 win over Ipswich are enforced. Patrick Dorgu, who was sent off on his Premier League home debut, is out through suspension.
Alejandro Garnacho, who was the fall guy when Dorgu was dismissed and was rebuked by Ruben Amorim for his reaction to being substituted, suffered a knock in the game and is on the bench. Noussair Mazraoui and Christian Eriksen come in.
Marco Silva took the unusual step of resting some of his players against Wolves on Tuesday with this Cup tie in mind – what a refreshing change. So in come captain Antonee Robinson, Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey.
03:56 PM GMT
Amorim on Garnacho being left on the bench
“Garnacho had an issue last game so we are using Eriksen because he is fit. We have Garnacho on the bench if we need him because it is a game that decides if we go into the next stage. We are going to try to use the characteristics of Chris which is quite different from Garnacho.
“The substitution [last game] was clear, he paid for the dinner and he’s ready to go. He’s working really well so I hope he continues to have an impact if we need it in the game.”
03:47 PM GMT
It looks as though Man Utd have two keepers on their bench...
Hubert Graczyk, 22, and William Murdock, 17. That sums up the current state of their squad: threadbare. Only seven substitutes from a possible nine, too.
03:36 PM GMT
The teams are in...
Manchester United
Starting XI: Onana, Mazraoui, De Ligt, Maguire, Fernandes, Hojlund, Zirkzee, Eriksen, Yoro, Dalot, Ugarte
Substitutes: Graczyk, Murdock, Heaven, Lindelof, Casemiro, Garnacho, Obi
Fulham
Starting XI: Leno, Castagne, Andersen, Bassey, Robinson, Berge, Lukic, Traore, Pereira, Iwobi, Muniz
Substitutes: Benda, Cuenca, Diop, Sessegnon, Reed, Cairney, Smith Rowe, Willian, Raul
03:22 PM GMT
How did they get here?
Manchester United’s third round was a 5-3 penalties victory over Arsenal, after a 1-1 draw at the Emirates. They then came from behind to defeat Leicester City 2-1 at Old Trafford.
Fulham, meanwhile, saw off Watford with a 4-1 win at home before an 2-1 away victory at Wigan.
03:06 PM GMT
Good afternoon
Welcome to our coverage for this afternoon’s FA Cup fifth-round kick off between Manchester United and Fulham at Old Trafford. Manchester United are the current holders – and 13 times winners – but are having their worst season in something like four decades.
They are, at least, still in what looks like one of the most open FA Cup competitions for some years as well as the Europa League. The Premier League, where they sit 13th after 27 games, is a total write-off. To even finish in the top half of the table they need to overturn a nine point gap to Aston Villa.
Fulham, meanwhile, sit ninth in the league and are on course for their highest league finish since the 2011/12 season. That said, their 13th-place finish last season and their 10th the year before were hardly a disgrace. Marco Silva is doing a good job, categorically.
You would say on current form they have a good chance of getting to the quarter-finals here. Old Trafford is not the daunting place to visit it once was. Indeed, Fulham won their first game since 2003 at this stadium just over a year ago with a 2-1 victory in the league. Ruben Amorim’s men are favourites, but only just – 6/4 vs 7/4. Either way, this one is definitely there for the taking.
So far we have Aston Villa, Crystal Palace, Preston North End, Bournemouth, Manchester City in the quarter-finals. One of Newcastle or Brighton will join them before we discover the winner of this match at Old Trafford. The eighth and final team will be one of Nottingham Forest or Ipswich Town, who play tomorrow evening.
The game kicks off at 4.30pm GMT and we will have the team news very shortly indeed.
