"There was a bit of embarrassment about it," Ferguson said of the 0-0 draw with Exeter at Old Trafford. "Sometimes you get criticised and don't deserve it but we couldn't escape criticism on that occasion. The two positives are that we're still in the Cup and, secondly, it was fantastic for the Cup and fantastic for Exeter. I thought their manager was magnificent in the way he handled it and the way he put himself across, particularly for such a young man. Their team played with great enthusiasm, they were well organised and above all they were extremely fair. At the final whistle there was none of the hand jibes or jumping up and down that you sometimes get. In my office too, when he came for a drink, there was no euphoria. He and Steve Perryman [Exeter's director of football] were terrific."
When it was put to Ferguson that almost the whole country would be rooting for Exeter he agreed:
"Quite right, too," he said "When I go to see a game of football, I always go for the underdog. I always want the small team to score. There are two dangers for us: one, that we don’t concentrate and focus and don’t treat is a cup-tie; and two, a tight pitch always licenses itself to a shock. I know their pitch isn’t the best."