The clock ticks over to the 72nd minute. A high ball is thrown into the penalty area, thousands watch in despair as an oversized, over vilified Belgian rises higher than any other to destroy Preston North End’s dreams.
Throwing elbows, fouling two defenders and breaking hearts all over the North West, Marouane Fellaini thuds home the goal that will send Manchester United into an FA Cup quarter final.
Children cry, cans are drunk and utter chaos breaks out in the away end. The country is showered with boiled piss. Nobody has been able to locate Martin Keown since.
The last time United reached an FA cup quarter final Jessica Alba was still a celebrity but despite that, fans and the media are discussing United’s tragic fall from grace, their diabolical football and blame Louis Van Gaal for the holocaust.
One loss in 19 games, third in the table and as close to Wembley as they’ve been in too long. A pretty good way to go into tomorrow’s match in Swansea.
Manchester United team news
The only injury remains Michael Carrick who is still recovering from post traumatic stress disorder after playing in a midfield with Tom Cleverley.
Phil Jones and Robin Van Persie are back but as both are made of glass they will most likely be injured for the next fixture-so that news is irrelevant.
Swansea City team news
Swansea welcome back Gylfi Sigurdsson after serving a three-match suspension for the red card he picked up against Blackburn. Wayne Routledge and Marvin Emnes are available again after injury, but Kyle Bartley has been ruled out for six weeks with a knee problem.
Key men
This game will be won in the midfield. Swansea are a possession-based team and will always look to pass their way through the opposition with their one touch passing.
United need to overload the midfield with Daley Blind and Ander Herrera (that’s if Louis will finally bring him out of the cold for two games in a row). Both will have to be effective at closing the ball down and moving it forward quickly.
Up-front, we’re faced with the usual dilemma. Play Wayne Rooney in his role alongside one between Van Persie, Radamel Falcao and James Wilson or drop Rooney in midfield to field the tantalising but utter under-performing Colombian-Dutch duo?
William Dawson
Predicted XI
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