PRESTON, ENGLAND // Five minutes before Preston North End’s big FA Cup fifth-round tie began against Manchester United, the draw for the quarter-finals was broadcast on a large screen above the 4,800 travelling United supporters at Deepdale.
The 21,348 fans packed into the famous old venue, now a smart modern stadium, held their breath. There was a cheer when Preston or United were awarded a home draw, an even louder noise when Arsenal were announced as opponents.
“Easy! Easy!” chanted the home fans in the Alan Kelly stand. Now their third-tier team only had to overcome Manchester United and Arsenal, placed 45 and 43 places and two divisions above, to reach a Wembley semi-final.
For an hour on a chilly Lancashire evening, their playful confidence didn’t look misplaced. When full-back Scott Laird, hitherto best known as the footballer who was attacked on the pitch by the boyfriend of an ex-partner, put the home side ahead with a 47th-minute shot deflected by Antonio Valencia past David de Gea, the lead wasn’t undeserved.
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United, starting all six close-season signings in a game for the first time, had enjoyed greater possession but limited chances as they passed the ball around in front of the Preston defence.
Wayne Rooney started in a more attacking role after recent matches in midfield, but he had so little service from a narrow midfield over-hitting passes that he dropped deeper.
Angel di Maria, United’s record signing, again frustrated, showing glimpses of quality but also wasting balls, the range of passing from his midfield peers poor. Despite getting support from fans, Radamel Falcao didn’t even show glimpses in a side with limited width and threat.
Preston became emboldened as the minutes ticked by and their fans cheekily sang: “There’s only one David Moyes”. The former manager of both clubs remains hugely popular in the city he’s made his family home for 20 years.
United didn’t have a shot on target in the first half and Preston manager Simon Grayson encouraged his side to push forward in the second.
“We tried to get on top of them and we did that,” said defender Laird, who gave his side the lead.
United needed to change to stay in the cup and did. The formation had already shifted and the ineffective Falcao came off to home chants of “What a waste of money”, replaced by Ashley Young. United needed width and got it from Young and Antonio Valencia.
“They were doing us down the sides a little bit,” said Grayson.
Louis van Gaal’s were now ascendant and Ander Herrera, making only his third start in as many months, played well in a central midfield role. The Spaniard shuffled into position to shoot and his effort went in off the post in the 65th minute for his fourth goal of the season. The home players claimed offside and pointed to Rooney, but United’s captain hadn’t interfered with play.
Preston’s proud endeavours faded, they tired and tried too many ambitious passes and were soon behind. Marouane Fellaini saw his 72nd-minute header saved by Thortsen Stuckmann, but volleyed the return into the roof of the net for his fourth goal of the season.
“The first goal was a little bit lucky, the second was a training goal, fantastic,” said Van Gaal.
Dejection was evident in Preston’s players as they slunk back to the centre circle and three were substituted a minute later. They needed to get a goal to stay in the tie and left gaps, but this United are far from ruthless.
They did increase their lead in the 88th minute when Rooney created a chance which led to a penalty which he converted. The United captain burst forward from midfield and took the ball around goalkeeper Stuckman with his first touch before he was tripped.
“He wasn’t touched,” said Grayson, “but the margins are fine in these games.”
The forward who hadn’t had a shot on target in 2015 before the match shot on target to make it three.
It concluded a second successive 3-1 win and another United performance which didn’t convince.
“We had to fight again for the victory like against Burnley,” said Van Gaal, who nevertheless was positive in his appraisal of his side.
That will be disputed by otherwise happy fans as United won once again to reach the last eight for that game against Arsenal.
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