DEVILISH DRAW

FA Cup quarter-final draw simulated with Man Utd handed nightmare tie – if they can even get past Nottingham Forest

Erik ten Hag hit back after coming under fire from a high-profile pundit this week

MANCHESTER UNITED have been handed a nightmare FA Cup quarter-final tie in SunSport's simulated draw.

The Red Devils still have to book their place in the last eight by beating Nottingham Forest at the City Ground tonight.

Advertisement
Man Utd were beaten by Fulham on SaturdayCredit: Getty
Erik ten Hag has come under fire after Saturday's resultCredit: PA

Victory is certainly not a given, with Man Utd having lost 2-1 to Nuno Espirito Santo's side in the Premier League in December.

Erik ten Hag will be desperate for his side to return to winning ways, after their abject 2-1 home defeat to Fulham last Saturday.

Should United manage to beat Forest, SunSport's simulated draw has landed them with a horrifying trip to Manchester City.

Pep Guardiola's side serenely booked their place in the quarters with a 6-2 win at Luton last night.

Advertisement

City host United in the Premier League this Sunday, and our draw has seen them land each other again.

Following the Red Devils' defeat to Fulham, pundit Jamie Carragher pointed out a baffling tactical trend.

He said: "Twenty seconds into the game against Fulham, it's been the problem for Manchester United all season, there's space between the back four and the midfield.

"We go to the reason why they're poor defensively and can't cope with counter-attacks, they've got no pace at the back and a lack of legs in midfield.

Advertisement

Most read in Football

ALLY'S ORDEAL
McCoist suffering from incurable 'Viking's disease' that ops couldn't fix
GUARD OF HONOUR
Guardiola's new deal officially confirmed by Man City as a two-year deal
YOR IN WITH A CHANCE
Amorim makes Yoro decision with £52m star removed from squad
RASHING IT OUT
How Ruben Amorim will resurrect Marcus Rashford's Man United career

HOW TO GET FREE BETS ON FOOTBALL

"People say: 'there's no patterns of play at Manchester United, how do they play and what's the philosophy?'."

Ten Hag then hit back: "First of all, some analysts are very objective in their comments, very good advice, some are very subjective.

'I'm telling you how it is' - Shearer instantly shakes head after Lineker question live on BBC for FA Cup coverage

"Jamie Carragher from the first moment on has criticised and now he wants to make his point.”

Advertisement

He then added: "Probably in the first half an hour, yeah, he had a point.

"The way Fulham set up their midfield was a surprise and then we have to find the solutions.

"After half an hour we found the solutions."

Elsewhere last night, Newcastle squeezed past Blackburn on penalties.

Advertisement

Their reward, according to our simulated draw, would be a home tie with Coventry - who beat sixth-tier Maidstone United 5-0 on Monday night.

Southampton face Carabao Cup winners Liverpool at Anfield tonight, with the winner to host Leicester in our simulation, with the Foxes having won 1-0 at Bournemouth after extra time.

Meanwhile, we've got the winners of Brighton vs Wolves to welcome the victors of Chelsea vs Leeds.

Advertisement

Simulated quarter-final draw in full

Newcastle vs Coventry

Man City vs Forest/Man Utd

Southampton/Liverpool vs Leicester

Brighton/Wolves vs Chelsea/Leeds

Advertisement
Topics
Advertisement
machibet777.com