3 Manchester United cupsets to inspire Northampton Town
Published:
They may have had their 31-game unbeaten run in league outings ended by Chesterfield last time out, but Northampton Town still have plenty to be excited about in the coming days.
A dream EFL Cup tie against the might of Manchester United awaits the Cobblers in midweek, with Sixfields Stadium playing host to Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Wayne Rooney, Paul Pogba and Jose Mourinho.
We make the League One side distant 17/2 chances for victory, but with the Red Devils prone to a surprising loss in the domestic cup competitions over the years there’s every chance that price could end up being too long.
Here’s three of the Old Trafford giants’ three biggest defeats to inspire Cobblers fans ahead of the clash:
Man United 0 Leeds United 1 – 2009/10 FA Cup third round
Sir Alex Ferguson fielded a strong side against the Elland Road side, with Rooney partnering Dimitar Berbatov up front, Gary Neville lining up at right back and Ryan Giggs and Michael Owen coming on from the bench.
None of them could do anything to cancel out Jermaine Beckford’s 19th-minute strike though, as the then-League One side prevailed.
Milton Keynes Dons 4 Man United 0 – 2014/15 EFL Cup second round
Northampton’s biggest inspiration should come from Karl Robinson’s heroes though, who defeat Louis van Gaal’s side in jaw-dropping fashion in this same competition two years ago.
The Dutchman paid the price for fielding a number of young players at Stadium mk, Will Grigg and Benik Afobe grabbed a brace each to send the hosts through.
Southend 1 Man United 0 – 2006/07 EFL Cup last 16
A striker-matchup of Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney against Freddy Eastwood and Gary Hooper only looks to have one winner on paper, but Eastwood’s goal at Roots Hall was enough to down the Red Devils.
Southend took Tottenham to extra time in the quarter finals after this victory, but were downed by a Jermain Defoe strike.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
