
Manchester United's Best and Worst FA Cup Games Against Lower-League Sides
Manchester United have got a mixed record against lower-league opposition in the FA Cup.
They play League One Yeovil Town at Huish Park in the third round on Sunday, a game Louis van Gaal's side should win comfortably. But then, they should have beaten Southampton in the 1976 final and Leeds United in 2010.
United have had good days and bad days against the so-called lesser teams in the FA Cup. Ahead of their tie with Yeovil on Sunday, here's a look at their best and worst performances against lower-league opponents in the FA Cup.
V Southampton (1976)
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United were heavy favourites ahead of the 1976 FA Cup final. Tommy Docherty's side had finished third in Division One, while Southampton, their opponents, had just finished a mediocre season in the second tier. But in front of nearly 100,000 fans at Wembley, Southampton defied the odds thanks to Bobby Stokes' 83rd-minute winner.
V Northampton Town (1970)
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A game famous as one of George Best's finest for United. Playing fourth-division Northampton Town in the fifth round in 1970, Best scored six as United won 8-2. United made it to the semi-finals, as Chelsea won the cup after a replay against Leeds at Old Trafford.
V Exeter (2005)
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United eventually made it through their third-round tie with non-league Exeter in 2005, but they made heavy work of it. A team that included Tim Howard, Phil Neville, Wes Brown and Gerard Pique could only draw 0-0 at Old Trafford. Sir Alex Ferguson brought Wayne Rooney, Paul Scholes and Cristiano Ronaldo back for the replay, which United won 2-0.
V Millwall (2004)
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One of United's more comfortable days against lower-league opposition. They cruised past Millwall, who had finished 10th in Division One, in the 2004 final at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. Ruud van Nistelrooy scored twice and Cristiano Ronaldo got the other as United won 3-0 to lift the trophy. It was the most recent of United's 11 FA Cup triumphs.
V Leeds United (2010)
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It's bad enough to lose a third-round tie against lower-league opposition. But for United to do it at Old Trafford against Leeds United made it even worse. Dimitar Berbatov, Wayne Rooney and Danny Welbeck all started for United, but it was Jermaine Beckford's 19th-minute goal that won it as Leeds booked their place in the fourth round with a 1-0 win.






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