Burton's dream is potential nightmare for United

Alex Ferguson's stewardship of Manchester United faces a potentially devastating examination tomorrow when part-timers Burton Albion visit Old Trafford in an FA Cup third round replay.

That game is one of nine replays that include another Premier vs minor league encounter when Middlesbrough take on Nuneaton Borough. Top flight Birmingham City tackle fourth division strugglers Torquay, also today.

Eleven-times Cup winners United, fielding a near-reserve team, were held to a 0-0 draw by Conference club Burton and did little to demonstrate their supposed superiority.

Ferguson's ploy of leaving out his big names backfired on two counts - not only do United now face a replay they could do without but the first-teamers failed to respond to the rest when they were beaten 3-1 by Manchester City on Saturday.

United, who drew 1-1 at Blackburn Rovers in the first leg of their League Cup semi-final between those two matches, are struggling for form at the moment and look a disjointed side.

New defender Patrice Evra was all at sea in the rough and tumble of the 145th Manchester derby and was probably as relieved as the United fans when he was substituted at half-time.

His French compatriot Mikael Silvestre continues to struggle and with an average-looking midfield failing to live up to the deeds of their illustrious forbears, United no longer inspire fear in their opponents.

At the same stage last season Ferguson recalled some regulars to secure a 2-0 replay win over minor league Exeter City and went on to the final, where they lost on penalties to Arsenal.

Out of Europe and 16 points adrift of Chelsea in the league this season, there seems little point in Ferguson resting players tomorrow, although with a Premier League clash against Liverpool on Sunday he almost certainly will.

Burton's part-timers will be happy to bring to life Old Trafford's tag of the "Theatre of Dreams".

Anything less than a convincing United win will increase the pressure on Ferguson, who is on a rolling one-year contract under United's new American owners, the Glazer family.

Ferguson's former assistant Steve McClaren would love to have the luxury of resting his first team players. He was forced to field six teenagers in his Middlesbrough side on Saturday because of injuries and the result was a 7-0 hiding at Arsenal.

Nuneaton earned their replay when a late penalty secured a 1-1 draw and they could be catching Boro at just the right time.

Torquay, third-last in the fourth division, will have similar aspirations at struggling Birmingham today although the Premier League side were unlucky to lose 2-0 at Charlton Athletic on Saturday after an excellent performance.

Tamworth, the third minor league side still involved, host Stoke City of the first division.

In other games first division Millwall are at Everton with the reward for the winners a home tie against champions Chelsea, Leeds United host Wigan, Reading play West Brom and Walsall are at home to Barnsley.