Middlesbrough v Man Utd
Riverside Stadium
Saturday 10 March
Quarter-Final
Kick-off: 1730 GMT
Referee: Rob Styles (Hampshire)
Replay date (if required) : Monday, 19 March, 2000 GMT
Team News:
Middlesbrough midfielders Julio Arca (dead leg) and Lee Cattermole (knee) were both doubtful, but have been declared fit to face United.
Brazilian midfielder Fabio Rochemback is also back in contention.
Dong Fangzhuo has been called into the Manchester United squad for the first time ahead of tomorrow's FA Cup.
Henrik Larsson plays his last game for United, with Darren Fletcher (ankle), Louis Saha (hamstring) and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (knee) out injured.
Middlesbrough (from): Schwarzer, Jones, Davies, Taylor, Abel Xavier, Parnaby, Hines, Woodgate, Pogatetz, Boateng, Arca, Cattermole, Downing, Morrison, Euell, Rochemback, Yakubu, Viduka, Christie, Lee.
Man Utd(from): Van der Sar, Kuszczak, Heaton, Neville, Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, O'Shea, Evra, Heinze, Park, Ronaldo, Carrick, Giggs, Richardson, Rooney, Smith, Larsson, Dong.
BIG-MATCH FACTS
MIDDLESBROUGH and Manchester United get the FA Cup quarter-finals underway with this Saturday teatime tie in front of live BBC Match of the Day cameras. Both these clubs needed replays in the fifth round. Indeed the Teessiders have failed to get through at the first time of asking in any round this season, being initially held away by Championship strugglers Hull, and League One Bristol City, and home to Tony Mowbray's promotion chasing West Brom.
Gareth Southgate's side, 11 places lower than their table topping opponents, have not lost a home tie in the FA Cup for nine years, since Aresenal won 1-2 in the fourth round on 24 January 1998. However, 'Boro have already been beaten at home by Manchester United in the Premiership this season.
This is the 10th time the clubs have been drawn against each other in the FA Cup and the second time in three seasons. United won 3-0 in the fourth round on 29 January 2005 with a brace from Wayne Rooney and a goal from John O'Shea at Old Trafford. Three years earlier the tables were turned in a fourth round contest at the Riverside - the Teessiders winning 2-0, thanks to goals from Noel Whelan and Andy Campbell.
The north east club graced the FA Cup final for the one and only time a decade ago. They were beaten 2-0 by Chelsea to the quickest goal in a Wembley final from Roberto Di Matteo after 43 seconds. Semi-finalists last year, they went out to eventual runners-up West Ham. Middlesbrough are looking to make the last four for the third time in six seasons, and the fourth time in their history. The Teesiders have only been beaten once in 14 League and Cup matches since the turn of the year, and are undefeated in five. Eight of their 12 FA Cup goals this season have been netted by either Mark Viduka or Yakubu, who've been on target in each round.
MANCHESTER UNITED hold a nine point advantage at the head of the Premiership table, and as Champions League quarter-finalists are going all out for the treble. Sir Alex Ferguson's side have won their last five in all competitions, and five in succession away from home. They've not lost in 10, winning nine and drawing one home and away, since defeat to Arsenal in the Premiership at the Emirates Stadium on 21 January.
The Red Devils are looking to overcome Premiership opposition for the fourth successive round, having already accounted for Aston Villa, Portsmouth and Reading. Victory would see them equalling Arsenal's record of 25 semi-final appearances.
United are hoping to win the Cup for a record 12th occasion. They're setting their sights on reaching the new Wembley, and qualifying for the final for the 18th time in their history. Seven of the previous 17 were under Sir Alex Ferguson, and five of those were victorious (1990, 1994, 1996, 1999 and 2004). Sir Alex has won 17 major trophies as United manager and 26 titles in total in his managerial career in Scottish and English football, which equals Jock Stein's post-war record.
