West Ham United went into their FA Cup tie against Manchester United this evening with a better head-to-head record over the Red Devils in the competition.
It looked as though they were going to extend that run even further when two headers from James Collins cancelled out an earlier strike from United midfielder Tom Cleverley.
However, two minutes into stoppage time Robin van Persie continued his fine form for United this season with a right-footed strike to force a replay.
You can find out how the match unfolded with our minute-by-minute commentary below.
Evening all. It's been a busy old day hasn't it?! And we are not done either. West Ham vs. Man United in the FA Cup - not a bad way to round of Saturday's football is it?!
Before we get involved in all the facts, figures and pre-match talk regarding this tie, the team news from Upton Park is in...
MAN UNITED X1: De Gea; Smalling, Evans, Vidic, Buttner; Rafael, Scholes, Cleverley, Kagawa; Welbeck, Hernandez
So, as expected, Sir Alex Ferguson has made a number of changes to his starting lineup. Having said that, it still looks a strong team. Javier Hernandez, Danny Welbeck, Shinji Kagawa and Tom Cleverley have all been handed starting roles. Interestingly, full-back Rafael looks to be featuring on the wing! He's an attack-minded defender though so it shouldn't cause the Brazilian too many problems.
WEST HAM X1: Jaaskelainen; Demel, Collins, Tomkins, Potts; Vaz Te, Collison, Diarra, Joe Cole, Nolan; Carlton Cole
Only one place to start with that West Ham lineup - Joe Cole will make a second debut for the club following his recent return to Upton Park from Liverpool. He will play in attacking role behind lone striker Carlton Cole. Young defender Dan Potts has also come into the team.
Talking of debuts, one player that will have to wait to make his first outing for the Hammers is Marouanne Chamakh. The Moroccan striker did not sign in time from Arsenal to be available for today's tie. He has just been introduced to the home faithful though and received a very positive welcome.
As mentioned in the introduction, West Ham have a better record overall against Man United in this competition. However, their recent history against Premier League clubs doesn't make for pleasant reading. They've lost on the last six occasions that they have come up against opposition from the top flight in the FA Cup.
West Ham's record in round three recently does also not make for pleasant reading. On three of the last five appearances in the competition, they have failed to progress beyond the first hurdle.
In contrast, since Sir Alex Ferguson took charge of United back in November 1986, the Red Devils have lost just one third-round encounter. That is a brilliant record, it has to be said.
Talking of Ferguson, he recently admitted that the FA Cup is not the most important competition for him. He would rather that his side emerged victorious in the Champions League:
"The Champions League, without doubt, is the bigger challenge," The Sun quotes him as saying. "You have all the big clubs in there.
"Let's be honest, would you rather be at West Ham or Real Madrid? It's a fact of life.
"The FA Cup is still the best domestic cup in the world. It still holds the romance about it when you are waiting for the draw."
Looking back, those statistics that I fired about West Ham may not have put their supporters in the best of moods. So, to cheer you up, here's that Di Canio goal at Old Trafford back in 2001. United fans, avert your eyes to avoid Fabian Barthez's embarrassing moment (one of many!)
With 15 minutes until we start here, let's just move away for a minute to look at what has happened elsewhere. There has been major shocks as the Conference pairing of Luton Town and Maccesfield have knocked out Wolverhampton Wanderers and Cardiff City of the Championship respectively. Elsewhere, Demba Ba scored twice on his Chelsea debut as the Blues ran out 5-1 victors.
For all of that, and all the other results and match reports from this afternoon's FA Cup action, click here.
Back to this match and one player that isn't involved for Man United is Wayne Rooney. The striker has suffered a setback in his recovery from a knee injury. However, he may not have featured anyway after it emerged this afternoon that his wife's young sister had tragically passed away following an illness.
Speaking ahead of this match, Ferguson has told ITV Sport that he is expecting a tough time today: "It's another hard one. And it's away. You are always hoping for a home draw in the FA Cup. Rio Ferdinand has won the FA Cup and I think he would love to. It's a blip on a record,"
Right, here come the players to flurry of bubbles. There's a really good atmosphere inside Upton Park tonight. Under the floodlights, it is one of the best grounds in terms of noise. The travelling United faithful will also help with that as well.
Here we go then. Manchester United, playing in white, get this FA Cup tie off and running...
A very neat passing move involving Paul Scholes, Welbeck and Kagawa ends with the Japanese international just over-hitting a pass in the direction of Hernandez and West Ham keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen is able to collect. Positive stuff from the away team.
It's been all United so far. Granted they haven't created anything in terms of goalscoring chances, but they are keeping the ball extremely well. Welbeck in particular has been heavily involved and is looking bright.
Almost an opening for United as Scholes plays a delightful ball over the top for Chris Smalling wide on the right. The full-back sends in an instant cross along the floor, but a stretching Hernandez just fails to make contact. Any sort of touch would have put United 1-0 up there.
OFF THE LINE! For all their pressure, United almost find themselves one down. Carlton Cole's downward header is cleared off the line by Scholes, before United skipper Nemanja Vidic throws himself in to bravely clear the danger. You get the feeling that if West Ham are to win this, it will have a lot to do with their threat in the air.
Another lofted ball into the United area causes problems. This time it is James Collins with the delivery from deep, but neither Carlton Cole nor Kevin Nolan can capitalise on the uncertainty and the ball drifts away from danger.
OFF THE LINE! Now it's West Ham's turn to clear one of the line. Potts is the home team's saviour as he hacks clear a powerful downward header from Vidic following a corner taken by Alexander Buttner.
GOAL! West Ham 0-1 Man United (Cleverley)
You will not see many better teams goals this season, that's for sure. Rafael and Hernandez link down the right for the latter to drill in a cross. Tom Cleverley is all alone inside the area and he sweeps the ball into the net from 10 yards out. The England midfielder is beginning to show a bit more composure in front of goal over recent weeks. United lead and deservedly so.
BOOKING! Rather predictably Scholes is cautioned for a late challenge on Welsh midfielder Jack Collison. There were no arguments from the Man United veteran, he knew what was coming.
GOAL! West Ham 1-1 Man United (Collins)
Well that didn't last long, did it? Joe Cole has an instant impact with an inswinging cross from the left, which an unmarked Collins sent glancing past a helpless David De Gea in the United goal. That is Collins's first goal for the club and it has got Upton Park rocking.
The United feathers have certainly been ruffled by that West Ham equaliser. The passes are not sticking like they were earlier in the tie and West Ham are now regaining possession quicker. We've got a game on here, that's for sure.
Joe Cole is beginning to make things happen for West Ham. He started this match on the left, but now he is drifting inside and the United defence do not seem to know who should be picking him up. They'll need to get a grip because he has shown already that he can hurt them.
SAVE! A speedy breakaway from Man United following a West Ham corner ends with Danny Welbeck curling an effort straight at Jaaskelainen, who pushes the ball to safety and his defenders clear.
BOOKING! West Ham's Collison returns the favour from earlier by clattering into Scholes and out comes the yellow card. That is one apiece for the two teams now.
It's all gone a pretty scrappy here, which to be honest probably suits West Ham because United are no longer playing the fluid football that they showed earlier in the tie. The Hammers deserve credit for that because they are getting among the likes of Scholes and Kagawa and are not letting them settle.
There will be a minimum of two minutes of stoppage time...
HALF-TIME: West Ham 1-1 Man United
Up until the West Ham leveller, visiting United were the dominant force. They played some very good football and pulled the Hammers defence here, there and everywhere. However, West Ham showed good character to equalise and since then have got about the United midfield and haven't let them get their passing football going again.
If West Ham were honest, the break has probably not come at the best of times for them. They were arguably the better side when the referee blew for half-time. It may actually work against them because it gives Sir Alex Ferguson a few minutes to sort a few of his side's issues out. It won't take a lot of tweaking because they showed early on what they are capable of.
And of course, if things don't go back in United's favour, they always have a certain Robin van Persie among their substitutes. Not a bad replacement, hey?!
It's not like United have been lacking in attacking areas though. They've had nine shots, four of which have been on target. Meanwhile, the Hammers have managed four efforts at goal with three of those landing on target.
Here we go again then. West Ham get the second half underway...
We've just seen footage of Van Persie warming up on the touchline. Perhaps it won't be too long until he is introduced into the action. Rio Ferdinand is also going through his paces.
CHANCE! Big opportunity for Cleverley to claim his second of the night is wasted by the midfielder. A cross from Rafael is only cleared to the edge of the area where Cleverley is waiting. He takes an instant shot, which flies well over the crossbar. He should have done a lot better with that.
Just like they did in the first half, United have started brightly here and are keeping the ball with ease. Smalling in particular is getting a lot of space down the right and a couple of crosses he has just swung over have caused problems for the West Ham defence.
SAVE! The two Coles link very well for the Hammers as Joe swings over a cross from the right byline for Carlton, whose guided header towards the left hand corner of the net is held by a diving De Gea. Smart save from the United keeper.
GOAL! West Ham 2-1 Man United (Collins)
The Joe Cole-Collins combination has done for Man United once again. What a cross from Cole, who swung the ball over from the left for an advancing Collins. The Welshman met it with a glancing header and once against De Gea had no chance. Collins is on hat-trick!!
SUBSTITUTION: Following that goal, West Ham make their first change of the match as Matt Jarvis takes the place of Ricardo Vaz Te. Jarvis will no doubt have been given the order to get the ball in the box whenever possible.
SUBSTITUTION: Here come the cavalry for Man United. Hernandez and Scholes are hooked as Van Persie and Antonio Valencia enter the action. The visitors have just over 20 minutes to stay in this season's FA Cup.
CHANCE! And Van Persie almost has an immediate impact. A corner from Buttner is sent to the near post for a waiting Van Persie, but the Dutchman is under pressure from Collins and he can only nod the ball wide of the target.
CHANCE! Man United really should be level. Van Persie plays in Buttner down the left byline and the Dutch full-back sits a cross up to the back post. Welbeck rises highest but his header goes over the bar from just six yards out.
SUBSTITUTION: Another switch for the Hammers as Alou Diarra is given a breather and Mark Noble is given a run out. It looks as though West Ham are going a little more defensive now.
SUBSTITUTION: Last throw of the dice for United as Giggs comes on for Chris Smalling. Meanwhile, Joe Cole's dream second coming is over and Matt Taylor takes his place.
United, armed with the likes of Van Persie and Giggs, are beginning to exert some real pressure on West Ham. As yet, the Hammers are standing firm but you feel that there will be a chance or two for United before the game's out.
BOOKING! What a silly challenge from Vidic, who deservedly goes into the book for tripping up Jarvis on the left wing. It was needless from the United captain because the West Ham winger was going nowhere.
CHANCE! West Ham could, and perhaps should, have booked their place in the next round. Jarvis's cross is headed down by Noble for Carlton Cole, but he is put off by De Gea and the ball trickles harmlessly out of play. Had he had a bit more belief there, Cole would have surely scored.
GOAL! West Ham 2-2 Man United (Van Persie)
Wow. Just wow! What a goal from Robin van Persie. Ryan Giggs arrows a ball over the top of the West Ham defence for the Dutchman, who takes it in his stride with a great left-footed touch. He sprints away from his marker before lashing the ball low beyond Jaaskelainen. That will really have hurt West Ham. They have four minutes of stoppage time to survive.
FULL TIME: West Ham 2-2 Man United
That will have really hurt Sam Allardyce and his players. Their name is still in the hat for the fourth round, but it is along with Manchester United. It looked for all the world that West Ham were going to win that until that man Van Persie showed his class.
As a result, the two teams will do it all again in around 10 days time at Old Trafford. You have to feel that West Ham's best chance of winning through has now gone. However, this is the FA Cup though - anything can happen.
That's all we have time for from Upton Park. Thanks for joining us this evening but be sure to look out for our analysis of the action, which will be with you shortly.
Written by
Liam Apicella
Liam Apicella
