United on red alert

By Tim Dykes

Manchester United FC will be desperate to avoid following Liverpool FC out of the FA Cup when they travel to face lowly Exeter City FC tonight.

No risks
In one of three FA Cup replays featuring Premiership sides, United will take on the non-league outfit who held them to a goalless draw at Old Trafford eleven days ago. But with Liverpool's defeat against second-tier Burnley FC on Tuesday night still fresh in the memory, United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is unlikely to risk fielding a side shorn of too many experienced, first-choice players.

'Strong side'
Wingers Cristiano Ronaldo and Ryan Giggs are expected to start, along with Paul Scholes and England pair Gary Neville and Wayne Rooney - none of whom made the starting eleven for the original tie in Manchester. "I am taking a strong side," said Sir Alex. "We expect a different Manchester United. Whether Exeter will be able to cope with that is down to the romance of the FA Cup."

Cup pedigree
Mark Hughes, three times an FA Cup winner as a United player, is enjoying his first season as a Premiership manager with Blackburn Rovers FC. The former Wales coach took his Rovers side to the Welsh capital Cardiff on third-round day and Morten Gamst Pedersen's goal secured a replay in a 1-1 draw with Cardiff City FC. Garry Flitcroft and Barry Ferguson miss out on tonight's Ewood Park replay, although Lucas Neill and Dominic Matteo are back from suspension.

Cole returns
Another Welsh manager hoping his side avoid an early exit at the hands of a Championship - or second tier - side is Chris Coleman, whose Fulham FC welcome Watford FC to Craven Cottage. The sides drew 1-1 at Vicarage Road eleven days ago - a reasonable result for the Premiership side given that both Southampton FC and Portsmouth FC lost there in the League Cup - and Andy Cole returns for the west London club after serving a one-match suspension.