MATCH REPORTS FROM THE BROADSHEETS

Manchester United cannot have endured many more testing examinations than the one Crewe provided last night. Dario Gradi's side outplayed the Premiership leaders for long periods and might have claimed a famous win but for Kieran Lee's goal with little more than a minute of extra-time remaining.

The 18-year-old, making his United debut as a late substitute, hammered a right-foot shot past Crewe's goalkeeper Ben Williams to earn them a fourth-round tie at Southend.

Sir Alex Ferguson had seen his weakened but still vastly experienced side toil embarrassingly against the League One club, United's manager admitting that Crewe were "the better team".

Only Tomasz Kuszczak prevented them from being comfortably ahead at the interval after they tore into the Premiership side, playing with gusto, panache and belief. United were chastened and not until extra-time did they find any rhythm.

Crewe, occupying 12th place in League One, were better in most departments, including those areas of the field where United, who fielded seven full internationals, had much experience.

Wes Brown and Mikael Silvëstre were unsettled throughout, the pair run ragged by Luke Varney, while up front Alan Smith, making his first start in eight months, struggled to have any impact.

Not even Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's well-struck goal, seized against the run of play, could dampen Crewe's spirits. Ferguson admitted as much afterwards, heavily criticising his side and implying that some of his players had treated the tie with contempt.

The Times:

The Carling Cup holders, survived a test of nerve and of endurance against Crewe Alexandra last night and only avoided their earliest exit from the competition in five years when Kieran Lee, an 18-year-old substitute, scored on his senior debut in the 119th minute.

There are 56 rungs in the league ladder between these teams, but nothing could separate them during regulation time after Luke Varney had scored the equaliser that took the Barclays Premiership leaders into extra time.

Crewe have never been beyond the third round of this competition and created far more chances than United, despite Sir Alex Ferguson naming seven senior internationals in his starting line-up. Dario Gradi can be proud of the manner in which his latest cast of talented young players performed.

Crewe produced an abundance of the classy passing football, which they have made their trademark. Indeed, on a slick surface bedevilled by a day of incessant rain, Tomasz Kuszczak was probably afforded more match practice than he might have cared for.

Telegraph:

Sir Alex Ferguson admitted that teenage debutant Kieran Lee saved him from "embarrassment" with an 119th-minute winner. Lee's goal ensured United now face Southend United in round four, but manager Ferguson was critical of the performance of his players against Dario Gradi's impressive team.

Finding himself as the junior manager on the touchline cannot be a regular experience for Ferguson but for once, the Scot had to bow to the remarkable longevity of Gradi in the opposite dug-out.

The Crewe manager passed his 20-year milestone three years ago and, with this being his 1,198th game in charge of the Gresty Road club since succeeding the long-forgotten Peter Morris during the summer of 1983, Ferguson was no more than another young upstart in the eyes of the 65-year-old.

If Gradi was lacking an inferiority complex alongside Ferguson, the same could also be said of his team as they refused to be intimidated by the seven full internationals alongside a sprinkling of bright young things in the United line-up.

Crewe possessed the best player on the pitch in Luke Varney, however, and the 23-year-old suggested he may follow the likes of Dean Ashton from Gresty Road to the Premiership as he tormented Wes Brown and Mikael Silvestre with his ability.

He was rewarded for his efforts on 71 minutes when he levelled with a crisp right-foot strike past Kuszczak from 20 yards, but despite creating more chances as the game wore on and into extra time, he was denied the winner his performance deserved.

Independent:

For Ferguson, however, there was little comfort in the sight of his latest generation of young talent struggling until the dying seconds against League One opposition.

From one to 11, United were unrecognisable from the team that strolled to victory over Liverpool on Sunday, and though many established stars were returning from injury, there was an uncertain, ponderous air that exposed the lack of depth in the squad at Old Trafford.

Right-back David Gray, striker Phil Marsh and central midfielders Ritchie and David Jones were all handed a rare start, but simply donning a United shirt does not make you a United player as Ferguson had cause to remind his players as early as the 15th minute.

On that occasion, the sluggish Gabriel Heinze and the casual Kieran Richardson were the objects of the United manager's anger at the precise moment Crewe broke and thought they had opened the scoring through the lively Luke Varney. An offside flag spared United on that occasion but there was no escape from the Scot's fierce criticism.

Crewe were unperturbed, however. Three times Varney was denied by Kuszczak before winning their personal duel 18 minutes from time when he cut in from the left and drove his shot past the Polish international's despairing dive. Crewe deserved their shot at extra time and would have gone to penalties but for Lee's excellent finish.

Crewe Alexandra (4-4-2): Williams; Otsemobor, Baudet, Cox, Taylor (Bell, 75); Lowe, Osbourne, Rix, Vaughan; Maynard, Varney. Substitutes not used: Tomlinson (gk), Rodgers, Higdon, O'Donnell.

Manchester United (4-4-2): Kuszczak; Gray (Lee, 75), Brown, Silvestre, Heinze; Solskjaer, R.Jones, D.Jones, Richardson; Marsh (Barnes, h-t), Smith. Substitutes not used: Heaton (gk), Shawcross, Rose.