Southampton – Manchester United

Join us for live coverage of Manchester United's FA Cup third round trip to face Southampton at St Mary's. All the action from 4pm UK time.

As shocks go, Manchester United getting knocked out of the F.A Cup today by 'Championship strugglers' Southampton is about as likely as, say, Manchester City getting trounced at home by 'Championship strugglers' Nottingham Forest. It shouldn't happen should it? But isn't that the beauty of this grand old tournament eh?

It's a re-run of the 1976 F.A Cup Final don't you know when Southampton were also a division below their more illustrious oppenents but vaulted that gulf majestically to claim the trophy that season.

United are without Rio Ferdinand (back problems), Carlos Tevez (gone to Argentina) and Patrice Evra (a very naughty boy). Southampton manager Jan Poortvliet will have to do without the duo of Jack Cork and Alex Peace and has doubts over several key players. Kick-off at St Mary's will be at four (or sixteen if you are that way inclined)of the o clock.

Some more team news. Danny Welbeck is starting for United and Stoke will remember well what he is capable of doing. Wayne Rooney will be shivering on the bench to begin with and Andrew Surman does start for the home side.

The teams emerge to signify the start of some ads on TV.

It looks damned cold on the south coast this evening but a warm reception greets the start of the match after a man dressed as a giant orange FA Cup has been removed from the pitch and dealt with by the authorities. United get us underway...

Southampton knock it about for a bit then decide it might be safer to head back towards Kelvin Davies in goal who gets his first touch of the ball.

This is a young Southampton side with six of the team not even havng been born when Sir Alex took the helm at Old Trafford. Hopefully they will all still be alive when he decides to leave. And the man himself rises from the bench to get a better look and have a wee moan after Paterson clatters in to Evans.

Skacel starts an attack down the left but it fizzles out as United mop up at the back.

Van der Sar comes from his line to claim a cross in from the right and Southampton are showing more than a dash of attacking daring so far.

Good strong tackle by James on Anderson wins possession for the Saints.

McGoldrick scampers after a ball which Edwin van der Sar only has to ensure he makes no backward movement to reach first.

Good tracking back by Berbatov to make the interception but Saints have a throw. The ball breaks to Ryan Smith on the edge of the United area but his flighted ball is just too far ahead of the Saints forward line.

Welbeck shows a flash of his speed as he chases a seemingly lost ball. He keeps it in but Southampton simply thank him for doing the hard bit and retrieve it themselves.

Davis comes to claim the ball at the second attempt as United menace in the Southampton penalty area.

Good link-up play between Berbatov and Anderson who plays it back to the Bulgarian. He faces a sea of red and white Saints jerseys though and can't direct a cross to one of his team-mates.

Great turn on the left from Skacel but his cross is far too close to van der Sar.

McGoldrick finds the onrushing Surman who flashes a dangerous cross across the United six-yard line. A fine run from Surman from midfield but United clear the danger.

A well-worked one-two between Berbatov and Nani brings a fine save from Davis and a corner for the visitors.

Lancashire heads the ball away as the corner comes across and then Perry makes a fine covering tackle when United get the ball in again.

Anderson fires in a great shot from the edge of the penalty area after some languid build-up play from Berbatov and it's another great save from Davis. Corner to United.

GOAL: Welbeck heads in to an open net after another good stop from Davis initially. Heartbreaking for the home side.

Bad tackle on Nani gives United a free-kick on the edge of the penalty area.

Giggs elects to dink it in, it's cleared but then once more Davis comes to Saints rescue with a save from Berbatov. Another corner but this time Davis takes it cleanly.

Evans shepherds the ball to safety well on the far side then United break. Welbeck only has to thread the ball through to Giggs who would be clean through on goal but he can't find him and Saints get it clear.

Skacel launches a long free-kick in from the right which is straight in to the large manly hands of Edwin van der Sar.

Carrick almost makes it two after flicking the ball over Davis but Perry has raced back to deny him at the death. Saints even get the goal-kick.

Nice little run from Carrick as he smimmies away from a couple of players but Saints win it from him and get the ball away.

Nani's shot is smothered by Skacel just inside the Saints penalty area.

Neville's cross in is somewhat clumsily cleared by Lancashire to give United another corner. They have had more than a few so far.

Nothing comes of the corner but United are tightening their grip on this game and you fear for Southampton.

United are stroking the ball around iin a leisurely manner but then disaster! Evans trips over himself then concedes a free-kick about thirty yards out. Skacel takes it but Carrick had raced from the wall to get a deflection which takes the ball back to van der Sar.

Evans was booked for the challenge by the way.

Looks like another yellow - this time for Paterson who has fouled Nani quite badly actually.

Wrong colour my friends. It's a red! you're out of here Matthew Paterson and your relative youth does not excuse the dangerous nature of your studs-up challenge.

Nani is ok though and he goes on a run which this time brings a foul from Skacel whos is also booked for a very late challenge.

Nani belts a ball in to the penalty area that was neither shot nor cross but has now turned in to a throw as Saints get it away.

Mea culpa - it was in fact Vidic who was the recipient of the Paterson foul which produced a red from Mike Riley. He is now getting some boos from the Saints crowd as a result of his part in the incident. A bit like booing the victim of a mugging really.

Welbeck tangles with Perry in the Saints penalty area but gives away a free-kick as he goes to ground.

Welbeck looks to have hurt himself following that incident and is still on the floor getting a bit of attention. Mr Rooney jumps to his feet and goes for a little jog at the sight of this.

Welbeck is ok though and shows it by sliding in fo a Nani cross and getting there first to bring another good save off the leg of Davis.

O'Shea heads it straight in to the hands of Davis who has had a good first half.

Ryan Smith appears to panic as Saints advance and loses possession. United break and win a corner at the other end. Giggs gets it across but a Davis punch signals the end of the first half. Can Saints get back in to this?

Jan Poortvliet was having a word or two with Mike Riley as the officials left the pitch at the end and it did not look as if he was asking him to come and play with the toys he got for Christmas. The goal had more than a whiff of offside about it looking at the replay but surely the Saints manager will concede the sending-off was correct? Or perhaps the red mist has descended so densely that he has become blind to all sense or reason and he will emerge for the second half with a pair of his own

Saints get us underway but Nani wins the ball before claiming a corner as his shot sails high over the goal.

Welbeck is caught by Lancashre who clipped his heels right on the edge of the penalty area. Free-kick for United.

Nani takes it and wins a penalty for handball after McGoldrick standing in the wall appeared to raise his hands. Controversy here again!

GOAL: Nani slots it home sending Davis the wrong way. Perfect penalty and that, you would imagine, is the end of this game.

Another fine save from Davis after Welbeck turns smartly and snaps a shot at goal. Another corner for United.

The referee blows in favour of Saints for an infringement to hugely ironic cheers from the Saints fans.

Welbeck is brought to ground on the edge of the Southampton penalty area and that looked like it should have been at least a free-kick.

Good cover from Lloyd James at the back for Saints.

Carrick's pass clips Anderson's heeels and then Saints break quickly. Ryan Smith wins the ball from O'Shea then comes inside Evans and looks as if he is poised to score! Or at least hit the target! He does neither though and his shot is woefully wide of the target.

At the other end United won a corner and when Carrick receives the ball on the edge of the penalty area he unleashes a low shot that looks as if it might sneak in but is a couple of inches shy of the post.

That is his last contribution of the day as he and Ryan Giggs are removed in favour of Darron Gibson and Rodrigo Possebon. Kayne McLaggon is also on for Southampton.

Gibson's first contribution is a positive if fruitless one as he cuts inside and shoots well wide from the edge of the penalty area.

Skacel expends a lot of energy chasing a ball which he reaches but his cross goes straight to the well-positioned van der Sar.

Nani shows a bit of wing wizadry down the left and after his cross is cleared tries an acrobatic effort from a tight angle. Too tight though and his volley goes behind for a goal-kick.

Danny Welbeck is coming off to make way for Wayne Rooney it looks like.

Indeed he is. And so is he. Southampton fans will be thrilled with the chance to witness Rooney in action no doubt.

Long throw from van der Sar finds Berbatov almost on the halfway line. Gibson and Anderson then combine before Rooney gets his first chance after Berbatov finds him but the angle is narrowed well by Davis to thwart the England man.

Smith is suffering from what looks like a bit of cramp on the touchline and his temporary absence leaves Saints down to nine men for now.

Almost a fantastic ball through the middle from Anderson towards Rooney but it is a fraction overhit and allows Davis to get there first. Davis again comes to claim a ball in his area that Rooney was after.

Ryan Smith departs to be replaced by Lee Holmes

Holmes gets involved with a cross from the left but Vidic boots the ball away.

Rooney surges past Perry but then cuts back and plays it to Berbatov who hesitates when he perhaps should have hit it first time. Rooney is exhorting his team-mates to up the tempo a bit though.

Another free-kick in a dangerous spot for United and Nani again to take it. No flailing arms this time but Nani is perhaps too close to goal to get it over the wall and on target and the shot goes over.

Nani tries to go past James using both speed and a clever little header but James perseveres to put the United man off and does enough to stop Nani getting his cross in.

McLaggon is easily dispossessed by Gary Neville as Southampton launch a rare attack.

Berbatov goes on an improvised run on the edge of the Saints area which leads him nowhere in particular.

Anderson fails to find Nani with a cross when to do so would probably have given United another goal.

GOAL: Gibson fires in from twelve yards but the thanks has to go to Rooney whose power took him past the Saints defence. He then looks up and selflessly plays in the better-placed Gibson who finishes with aplomb.

Anderson fires a low shot just wide of the goal and there may yet be a goal or two more in this game.

United's class shows through with Berbatov playing a delightful ball over the top which Rooney eagerly races on to. Great play from the Bulgarian but no fourth goal for United.

Nani's cross in from the right is headed away by Lancashire. Saints just want this game to end.

Berbatov checks his run then tries to thread the ball through to Rooney who has just moved in to an offside position.

Corner for United and Nani plays it to Rooney. At the second attempt he brings another good save from Davis. If it wasn't for the three goals he has let in you could justifiably call Kelvin Davis unbeatable.

A very tired looking Chris Perry almost slots in to his own net but instead his side face a corner. Rooney has another shot which is straight at Kelvin Davis.

FULL-TIME: United didn't even need to get out of second gear and Southampton were doomed from the moment they went down to ten men. A stroll really for United but big shout out to Kelvin Davis who was superb for the Saints.