After they had failed to win a trophy during the previous campaign, the pressure had grown on Manchester United as they struggled to compete with the start of the Jose Mourinho era under Roman Abramovich. Although results had improved during the first half of the 2005-06 season, Sir Alex Ferguson's side were aware that they needed to avoid a banana skin when travelling to Burton Albion in the FA Cup third round on this day in 2006.
A year earlier, United had been held to a goalless draw by non-league Exeter City at Old Trafford and that embarrassment may have been behind Ferguson's selection of a number of his established and emerging stars. Goalkeeper Tim Howard took his place in goal behind a back four that included Wes Brown, Gerard Pique and Mikael Silvestre, while the likes of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Louis Saha and Giuseppe Rossi featured in attack.
As for Burton, just one victory in five games in the Conference Premier meant that they were less than ideally prepared for the contest at the Pirelli Stadium, but manager Nigel Clough could take confidence from his team picking up the scalp of Peterborough United earlier in the competition before they prevailed past Burscough in the second round to set up the lucrative showdown with United.
Despite their lack of form in the league, it was Burton who made most of the early running in front of a capacity crowd with Shaun Harrad providing a constant threat in the final third. The former Notts County trainee, who was playing in his first season at Burton, registered the first effort of the match but it comfortably cleared Howard's goal.
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United were struggling to gain possession of the ball, and even when they did, they were being met by pressure from their enthusiastic opponents. As the game passed the quarter-hour mark, Burton forced a corner that nearly brought the opener, but Jon Shaw's goal-bound shot was cleared off the line by Phil Bardsley.
The visitors did respond through Ritchie Jones, who miscued his shot inside the penalty area when attempting to net his first goal for the club, while Saha had an effort blocked after a neat first touch had created an opening, but Burton were far from flustered as Harrad tested Howard with a volley from 20 yards.
Any complacency within the United ranks had disappeared as they became involved in a full-bloodied cup affair, and they ended the first half on the front foot as Jones once again went close after Saha had headed wide when well placed inside the penalty area. However, before the half-time whistle, Bardsley made a second intervention on the line, this time to deny Darren Stride, and Ferguson had plenty of work to do during the break.
The Scot's half-time team talk appeared to take immediate effect as United returned for the restart eager to stamp their authority on proceedings but for all their possession, only Kieran Richardson could threaten Saul Deeney's goal and that resulted in Ferguson calling on Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo.
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After taking over captain responsibilities, Rooney attempted to lead from the front but despite firing two decent strikes on goal, he was met by saves from Deeney, who was beginning to relish the possibility of achieving a clean sheet against one of the biggest clubs in world football.
Burton had claims for a penalty late on when Pique appeared to handle inside the area, but after their appeals were waved away, it was left to Deeney, who now plies his trade for Midland Football League club Basford United, to make himself a hero by pulling off a last-gasp save to stop Jones inflicting what would have been a harsh defeat on the minnows, who fully deserved the opportunity to feature in a replay.
Burton and many of the record 6,191 crowd savoured every moment of the celebrations that followed but 10 days later in the replay at Old Trafford, the Staffordshire outfit were brought back down to earth when they succumbed 5-0 to the Premier League giants with a double from Rossi and efforts from Saha, Richardson and Ryan Giggs ensuring a routine night for the home team.
Darren Plant
