United go back to basics with tie at Aldershot

MANCHESTER United will set out on the road to recovery following Sunday’s 6-1 home mauling by Manchester City in the unlikely surrounds of Aldershot Town’s modest Recreation Ground in the League Cup fourth round tonight.

It would be harder to imagine a greater contrast between two grounds than Old Trafford and Aldershot’s basic home which only has stands on three sides and usually attracts crowds of around 2,000 for the Hampshire club’s matches in League Two. However, the visit of the champions means the capacity has been increased to a sell-out 7,300.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is likely to name a much-changed side from the one that crashed so spectacularly to City.

While that game ended with United suffering their worst defeat in decades, Aldershot, coached by the former Wimbledon and Bolton striker Dean Holdsworth and the lowest ranked club left in the competition, are in relatively good spirits.

Their 5-2 win at Dagenham & Redbridge on Saturday was their best since they returned to the Football League in 2008 and whatever the outcome they will no doubt relish their first appearance in the last 16 of the competition.

Aldershot have knocked out three clubs from higher divisions than themselves – West Ham United, Carlisle United and Rochdale – to get this far.

It will not be their first match against United though, as they also played them in the League Cup in September 1970 when, before the days of squad rotation, a crowd of 18,000 at the Recreation Ground saw George Best, Bobby Charlton and Denis Law guide United to a 3-1 win.