No Quintuple this season!

Former United goalkeeper Tim Howard returned to haunt his old club as Everton reached the FA Cup final with a 4-2 penalty shoot-out victory.

After a goalless two hours, Howard saved a woeful penalty from United record signing Dimitar Berbatov and another from Rio Ferdinand to send the Toffeemen into ecstasy.

It also ended Sir Alex Ferguson's 100% record in last-four clashes in the competition, although the Scot must have known such a scenario was a realistic possibility given the team he picked in front of a sell-out Wembley crowd.

It had become common knowledge that Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Edwin van der Sar had not even made the trip, while the veteran Ryan Giggs was down on most people's lists of the men to be excluded as well.

But the likes of Federico Macheda, Fabio da Silva, Darron Gibson and Danny Welbeck were among a youthful XI.

Ultimately it came down to spot-kicks and after Tim Cahill missed the first for Everton, Howard save United's next two with Phil Jagielka netting the clincher for the Toffees.

Toffees boss David Moyes said: "The goalkeeper made a couple of really good saves. We had a struggle to find five to take them. Jagielka was one of the ones who scored in training. We didn't have too many takers on the day."

The Red Devils had a good shout for a penalty during the 90 minutes when Danny Welbeck went down under close attention from Jagielka and Moyes feared the worst.

"From where I was I thought it was," Moyes continued.

"I've not seen it but I thought that may be close."

Everton captain Phil Neville, who like Howard was up against his former side, told BBC Radio Five Live: "It's one of the proudest moments of my career - to lead the team out at Wembley in the FA Cup final.

"They say your next achievement is the best and that is certainly how it feels.

"We've beaten the best side in the world - it's just a really proud moment."

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History behind Man Utd v Everton @ Wembley

Man United and Everton will meet at Wembley in the FA Cup for the first time since the Merseyside club triumphed in the competition in 1995.

United are overwhelming favourites to lift the trophy but echoes of Paul Rideout’s winning goal for Everton which left Sir Alex Ferguson’s side trophyless in 1995 may play on United supporters’ minds when the teams meet at Wembley.

The fixture needs no added spice with the antipathy that exists between Everton supporters and their former Gwladys Street favourite Wayne Rooney. It is five years since the striker left Goodison Park for Old Trafford but his move still rankles with Evertonians. Indeed, the last time the two sides met in the FA Cup coincided with Rooney’s first appearance at Goodison Park since leaving the club. Manchester United cruised to a 2-0 victory, but the match was almost a sideshow to the pantomime treatment of Rooney.

Fixture: Manchester United v Everton
Competition: FA Cup
Venue: Wembley, London
Date:19 April,09
Time:15.00 UK 20.25 IST
Channel: SET PIX

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Fulham 0-4 United

United march towards a quintet of trophies continued apace at Craven Cottage as Carlos Tevez helped sweep aside Fulham and earn a place in the FA Cup semi-finals.

Tevez scored twice before half-time and his double helped explain why Sir Alex Ferguson’s men might lift five bits of silverware this season - nine of his 12 goals have come in cups.

SUMMARY:
Fulham 0-4 Man Utd
Tevez 20,35
Rooney 50
Park 81

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Fulham v United - Preview

United's Wembley heroes could be asked to book a return to the stadium for the FA Cup semi-final.

Fulham stand in the way of the Reds' third outing under the Arch this term after penalty successes in both the Community Shield against Portsmouth and last Sunday's shoot-out win against Tottenham in the Carling Cup Final.

United visit Craven Cottage for the FA Cup sixth round tomorrow with a semi-final at Wembley beckoning.

The tie against Roy Hodgson's side is sandwiched between the successful Premier League trip to Newcastle and the second leg last 16 Champions League showdown with Inter Milan.

Game: Fulham v Manchester United
Competition: FA Cup Quarter Final
Venue: Craven Cottage
Time:17.15 UK 10.40 IST
Channel: SONY PIX (India Only)

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DERBY 1-4 UNITED - Review

Manchester United strolled into the quarter-finals of the FA Cup with a comfortable victory over Derby.

Darren Fletcher and Ji-Sung Park had early efforts saved before Nani rifled a right-foot shot in from 20 yards.

Cristiano Ronaldo had a goal belatedly ruled out after a consultation between the match officials before Darron Gibson volleyed home from 18 yards.

Ronaldo nodded in a third before Miles Addison headed in for Derby but Danny Wellbeck's late curler secured the win.

United dominated from the kick-off and Gibson, one of seven changes to the side that beat West Ham last time out, demonstrated their intent in the opening minute with a powerful forward run, but his rising drive cleared the bar.

Fletcher was the first to test out Stephen Bywater with a stinging drive from the edge of the box after a neat interchange of passes with Ronaldo and Ryan Giggs.

Nani then turned Rams skipper Paul Connolly inside out down United's left before delivering a deft chip to the back post, but Park's header was palmed away by Bywater.

Derby had half chances of their own, but Rob Hulse fired a volley on the turn just over and directed a header wide before Kris Commons forced United keeper Ben Foster into a low save from a 30-yard free-kick.

But the goal that United's domination deserved duly arrived just before the half hour mark.

The ball was worked across the edge of the box to Nani, via Fletcher and Giggs, and the Portuguese winger cut back in from the left and hit a powerful drive beyond Bywater with his right foot.

Ronaldo thought he had doubled the lead when Foster's quick throw-out was flicked into his path by Giggs and the Portuguese forward raced clear and tucked the ball home.

But as Ronaldo wheeled away in celebration, the assistant referee learned from referee Alan Wiley that Giggs had touched the ball in the build-up and he belatedly, and correctly, raised his flag for offside.

United's second goal, just before half-time, also had a touch of controversy about it.

Gibson lashed in a low volley from 20 yards after Ronaldo's free-kick had hit the wall, but United's Rafael Da Silva, technically in an offside position, had to hurdle the ball before it flashed past Bywater.

Ronaldo scored a legitimate goal immediately after the restart though, powerfully heading Giggs' corner over Gary Teale and into the net.

And United would have added a fourth but for an outstanding double save by Bywater.

Giggs again put Ronaldo through with another neat flick, but the Rams stopper palmed his low shot away and then kicked Fletcher's fiercely hit drive to safety.

Derby refused to be beaten though and deservedly pulled one back when Robbie Savage's quick free-kick found Commons on the right and his centre was headed home by Addison just before the hour mark.

Teale began to make more of a nuisance of himself down the Derby left in the final 30 minutes as the Rams found a renewed confidence, but all too often the final ball into the box was lacking.

The midfielder did test Foster with a low shot that the United keeper turned round the post and from the corner, Addison found himself in space, but headed agonisingly wide.

United had the last say though when Fletcher and Giggs combined again on the edge of the box before the former flicked a pass out to substitute Danny Wellbeck on the left and the 18-year-old curled a first-time shot beyond Bywater.

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Derby v United - Preview

Derby County tested United in both legs that was just when they first appointed Nigel Clough as their new manager. Since taking charge he has quickly changed the fortunes of the clubs, as now the Rams are in top form. Clough is a manger without much experience but has helped the club from spiralling towards relegation.

Kris Commons, who scored that marvelous strike in the first leg of the League Cup, will also be a threat against United on Sunday.

“We’re more confident this time round,” Commons said. “Before it was just a dream to try and beat them. Now we know it is half-dream, half-reality.”

Man Utd on the other hand are likely to field a side packed with both youth and talent and will do their best have to prevent a hungry, in form Derby side.

Derby County

Bywater

Connolly - Albrechtsen - Addison - McEveley

Barazite - Green - Savage - Teale - Commons

Hulse

Man Utd

Foster

Rafael - Vidic - Evans - Evra

Park - Scholes - Fletcher - Giggs

Tevez - Welbeck

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SAF expects an improvement from United on second Derby visit

Sir Alex Ferguson has warned his players he expects a significant improvement when Manchester United play Derby County in the FA Cup tomorrow compared with their last visit to Pride Park. On that occasion United lost 1–0 in the first leg of the Carling Cup semi-final, with an enraged Ferguson describing it as his team’s worst performance of the season and singling out the usually reliable Paul Scholes and Nemanja Vidic for criticism in the dressing room.

The damage was only superficial, with United winning the second leg 4-2 at Old Trafford, but Ferguson was as angry as at any other stage this season. The manager felt his side “could have lost by four goals” and, in particular, he was disappointed by the contribution of his more experienced players in an experimental line-up.

“Maybe, in some respects, what happened is a good thing because we’ll know what to expect now,” Darren Fletcher, the midfielder, said yesterday. “We’ve played against them a couple of times and it won’t be a shock to us this time. I’m sure it’s going to be a similar type of game. They’re going to come at us at 100 miles per hour and it will be a good atmosphere but I’m sure we will be ready for them this time.”

United will, however, have to try to navigate a way into the quarter-finals without Wayne Rooney, while Derby are having a mini-revival under the management of Nigel Clough, with three wins in succession since dropping into the Championship’s relegation places.

“I’m really surprised that they’re struggling,” said Fletcher. “They did well against us. They looked impressive and showed that, on their day, they can raise their game and cause problems for anyone. I’m sure their manager is looking at them and saying, ‘Why can’t you perform like that in the league?’ But this is a one-off cup game and they will see it as the chance of a big scalp to knock out Manchester United.”

Rooney is still recovering from the hamstring problem that has kept him out of United’s past six games as well as England’s friendly against Spain this week. He has resumed full training but Ferguson believes it would be safer to bring him back in Wednesday’s league game against Fulham at Old Trafford and, with a Champions League tie coming up against Internazionale later this month, he is not prepared to take any risks.

“We would never jeopardise anything,” said Mike Phelan, Ferguson’s assistant. “We have numerous players in the squad that we can use and Inter Milan is always in your mind.”

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