Fergie fires out top team for FA Cup

Alex Ferguson left little doubt about the FA Cup’s importance to Manchester United’s flagging season by naming his strongest possible line-up for the sixth round tie at Southampton.

The introduction of Quinton Fortune for injured winger Ryan Giggs was the only change to the Red Devils side knocked out of the Champions League by AC Milan on Tuesday as the holders looked to join fellow title also-rans Arsenal in the last four.

United were heavy favourites to advance at the expense of the struggling Saints but one of the most notable successes of Harry Redknapp’s entire managerial career came in 1984 when his then Third Division Bournemouth side knocked the Old Trafford men out at the third round stage.

Redknapp was without Rory Delap, who failed a fitness test on his ankle injury, but, despite the return to fitness of Antti Niemi, Redknapp opted to stick with teenage keeper Paul Smith, who has done so well in the Finn’s absence.