THE INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY - EXETER WALKING TALL IN THE LAND OF GIANTS
When Exeter City began counting their blessings for drawing Manchester United in the third round of the FA Cup, they dared to ask for just one more wish: a replay to generate even more money. Yesterday their prayer was answered.
The cash-strapped Conference club, who exist only because their supporters fought to keep them alive when their money problems threatened to swamp them 18 months ago, took with them half of the proceeds from a 67,551 crowd at Old Trafford yesterday and can expect to make further inroads into their £600,000 debt at St James's Park on 18 January when the teams meet again.
It was a reward that the non-League club thoroughly deserved. Rather than be cowed at the prospect of facing the richest club in the world, they matched United all over the pitch. And, by the time the game finished, the Cup holders included Paul Scholes, Cristiano Ronaldo and Alan Smith. This was a bona fide piece of David matching Goliath.
At the end, the Exeter players were given a standing ovation from Old Trafford and the 10,000 supporters who had made the journey from Devon reacted like they had won the final. In a sense they had.
Exeter deserved no less and the result had a precedent. The last time United played a non-League team in the FA Cup, they were held at home by Walthamstow Avenue in the fourth round in 1953. Then they won the replay 5-2; this time you suspect they might find it harder.
THE SUNDAY TIMES -
So, this is why they call it The Theatre of Dreams. Exeter City, a great club rescued from financial ruin by its own fans, turn up and match the great Manchester United. At the end of an absorbing afternoon, Exeter’s players jumped for joy and many hearts, even United hearts, jumped with them. This was an occasion to restore your faith in the game and maybe in mankind itself.
There is a price to be paid for wearing the shirt, for training at Carrington, for being able to say: "I’m a Man United player."
Yesterday a collection of mostly young United players paid that price. They could only draw 0-0 with non-league Exeter City after producing what Sir Alex Ferguson described as "the worst FA Cup performance in my 18 years at the club".
Ferguson is not in the habit of saying sorry for his team, but yesterday he did and one can only guess at the depth of his anger. "I apologise to Manchester United fans," he said after his team had failed to score against opponents ranked 94 places below them. "They didn’t deserve that. It’s hard to get your head around it. We are all very disappointed. If someone had told me before the game it would be 0-0, I would probably have hit them."
One can only imagine what Ferguson said to his young players after a first-half display that was shockingly ineffective. Many will struggle to regain the manager’s favour. "We should thank our lucky stars we’re still in the Cup," said Ferguson. "We are delighted to be still in the hat. It was probably a mistake not to put out a stronger team and I will play a stronger side in the replay." It was suggested to Ferguson that, with so many young players in his side, the performance might not have been that great a surprise. He wasn’t buying that argument: "I don’t accept that. I expect better from these young players."
Much will be made of Ferguson’s decision to start with such an inexperienced side but that does an injustice to the composed and yet wonderfully gritty performance from Exeter. They brought 9,000 fans to Old Trafford and treated them to a magnificent performance, while the winter air above the Theatre of Dreams reverberated to the chant of "there’s only one team in Devon". Even when Ferguson sent on the cavalry in the second half, the team from the West Country stood firm. Paul Scholes, Cristiano Ronaldo and Alan Smith were despatched from the bench to win the game for United but they couldn’t do it. United must now make the journey to St James Park for the January 18 replay and, for one evening at least, there will be two teams in Devon. The two games could earn Exeter £1m.
THE OBSERVER - EXETER HAVE THEIR BIGGEST DAY AS FERGUSON GAMBLE BACKFIRES
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson's gamble of playing a vastly inexperienced side backfired as a heroic performance from Conference side Exeter earned them a historic draw on the biggest day in the club's history.
Exeter deserve the replay; they had no control over the players Ferguson chose to field and - most amazing is that, with greater composure in front of goal, they could have won.
Only Phil Neville, captain for the day, survived the team that started against Tottenham last Tuesday, with Ferguson handing full debuts to winger David Jones and defender Gérard Pique. They never gelled as a team and were outfought by opponents 93 places below them in the football league ladder.
Only with the second-half arrival of Alan Smith, Paul Scholes and, to a lesser extent, Cristiano Ronaldo, did they begin to mount anything resembling a sustained spell of pressure. But even in the frantic final quarter of an hour, Exeter remained strong and disciplined enough to survive.
Scholes probably had United's best chance, deep into injury time, when he wriggled free to receive the ball in the box, Old Trafford held its breath as he turned and shot, the ball beat the outstretched fingers of the Exeter goalkeeper Paul Jones, but rolled inches wide of the upright.
THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH - EXETER LEAVE UNITED HUMBLED
HOSTSThis draw was no more than Exeter deserved. They played with a spirit and commitment you would expect while United were in disarray for much of an afternoon that plunged them into an ever deeper state of embarrassment.
Exeter had to survive a predictably frantic finale with Smith and Scholes almost settling the tie for United. But the Cup was made for days like this and Exeter were not to be denied. Their confidence was bolstered as early as the fifth minute when Sean Devine, their captain, surged down the left and thumped a shot across United's goal.
United's most potent weapon in the first half was Chris Eagles's in-swinging free-kick. Paul Jones had to react smartly to keep out the winger's first effort and then saved from David Bellion.
A hail and thunder storm forewarned United of darker moments to come. Tim Howard, replacing Roy Carroll in goal, anxiously punched away a 20-yard volley from Andy Taylor after Gerard Pique carelessly headed the ball into his path.
Taylor then had Exeter's fans celebrating as his whipped free-kick rippled the United net. Alas for that huge following, the ball thrashed the outside of the side netting.
Bellion responded with a free-kick, which Jones beat away, but United finished the half grateful to be level. They began the second half with greater purpose and at last forced Exeter onto the back foot. Liam Miller had a tame effort blocked before Scott Hiley, stationed at a post, stopped David Jones's raking shot. From the subsequent corner, Pique headed over.
Undeterred, Exeter came back at United, who by now had Scholes and Ronaldo warming up on the touchline. They were summoned to prepare for duty after Dean Moxey again went close for Exeter. This time his half volley from 25 yards fizzed just a little high and wide. Jones had to tip away a header from Wes Brown, but Ferguson decided it was time to bring on Scholes and Ronaldo. Still Exeter resisted.
United played their last hand, sending on Smith, who immediately released Ronaldo with a glanced header. The winger unleashed a fierce right-foot shot but Jones turned it away. Scholes flashed the ball across the area and Smith pulled a shot wide after turning smartly in the area.
Deep into stoppage time it seemed United might still find a way through but Scholes pushed the ball tantalisingly beyond the far post. The Exeter players raced towards their fans to join in the celebrations, as a bedraggled United sought refuge in the dressing room.