Man Utd’s record vs League Two teams in the FA Cup
Manchester United remain the grandest institution in the English game and are among the clubs FA Cup dreamers wish to be pitted against.
The club’s modern day demise renders them vulnerable to the competition’s magic, although upsets at the Red Devils expense have come few and far between.
Since the establishment of a singular Fourth Division in 1958, United have faced up against sides from the fourth tier – the division was rebranded as League Two in 2004 – eight times in the FA Cup.
Here’s a rundown of United’s record against fourth tier opponents, as well as some memorable match-ups.
Man Utd 2 Chester City 1. January 1965. Pat Dunne catches the ball at Old Trafford in the FA Cup 3rd Round. pic.twitter.com/8qbOdUDl4S
— Michael H (@MikeH2999) October 20, 2015
This was a historic occasion for Chester City, who were drawn against the 1964/65 First Division winners in the FA Cup third round.
The visitors didn’t turn up at Old Trafford merely for a day out either, they had their ‚Famous Five‘ armed and ready to stun the Red Devils. For a while, it looked as if Chester would pull off one of the all-time great cup upsets.
Jimmy Humes struck in the opening ten minutes for the visitors, but their lead would last only until the 56th minute when a young George Best drew United level. Albert Kinsey pulled the hosts into the lead three minutes later, and despite Chester’s spirited efforts, that was an advantage United didn’t surrender.
On this day in 1970 Man Utd beat Northampton 8-2 with George Best scoring 6 goals! Here is the match ball. pic.twitter.com/WnavDBRGau
— Art of Football (@Art_of_Football) February 7, 2019
Hat-tricks are a rare feat, double hat tricks are worthy of knowing where you were when they occurred. However, very few things were beyond the genius of George Best.
On 7 February 1970, the Northern Irishman produced one of his greatest-ever performances as he netted six times in United’s 8-2 thumping of Northampton Town. Best remains one of only two players to net a double hat-trick for the Red Devils.
His achievement was all the more impressive given the state of the County Ground pitch and the fact that he was just returning from a month-long suspension. Best was just 23 years old at the time as he produced several vintage sequences in and around the box to record his impressive tally amid Man Utd’s emphatic victory.
„I would think George is a fraction of the way from being the best player in the world and I am only holding back from putting him on top to keep him on his mettle,“ beamed Sir Matt Busby post-match.
Hereford Utd 0 Man Utd 1. January 1990. 13,777 were at Edgar Street. Clayton Blackmore scored #FACup4 pic.twitter.com/MWZwcBiPvh
— Michael H (@MikeH2999) August 31, 2015
Edgar Street was packed to the rafters as Sir Alex Ferguson’s Red Devils came to town, although United weren’t quite yet the beast they’d evolve into under the Scotsman.
In fact, this cup tie arrived at a critical juncture in Fergie’s tenure. Had United been stunned in Hereford, there’s a strong possibility that the visiting boss would’ve received his marching orders in the aftermath. United exited the League Cup in the third round and they hadn’t won in the league since November. The pressure was ramping up.
The visitors were poor with Hereford the better side, but United’s Clayton Blackmore scored the game’s only goal with just minutes remaining to keep Fergie in the job. The Red Devils would go on to win the FA Cup that season.
From Fergie to Jose Mourinho. The Portuguese pragmatist led his Man Utd side out at fourth-tier Yeovil Town in a 2017/18 fourth-round tie, and the visitors had no issues sweeping the minnows aside.
It took just over 40 minutes for Marcus Rashford to break the deadlock with Ander Herrera doubling United’s lead after the break. The Red Devils were comfortable throughout as Alexis Sanchez made his debut for the club, recording two assists.
Jesse Lingard and Romelu Lukaku scored late on to add some gloss to the scoreline.