Manchester United 5 v 1 Burton Albion Old Trafford, Manchester
18th January 2006
Burton may well have battled hard in the first game against United, well enough to force a replay even, but this time around Fergie wasn't uite so forgiving - either with his team selection not with his game-plan.
It may have been a team of youngsters, with Pique, Bardsley, Richardson and Rossi on at the start, but the subs bench summed up Fergie's intent on winning this game - Neville, Giggs, Ferdinand and van Nistelrooy was one of the strongest benches this country has ever seen.
Whilst Burto would have been hoping to keep a clean sheet for the first twenty to allow them to compete realistically, United had other ideas.
Rossi was superb with his link-up play, and it was his pass to Richardson that led to the first goal. The young englishman knocked the ball across for Saha to tap in with ease.
Rossi doubled the tally on 22 minutes, with a well taken header from another cross, before setting Saha up with a one-on-one which the Frenchman should have scored.
half-time came and went, but with United dominant, Burton hardly had a look-in, in spite of their battling spirit.
The game was wrapped up by Richardson on 52 minutes, with a well-taken shot from the edge of the box.
Giggs was then put through by Rossi, and Rossi himself grabbed the last, a neat chip and volley from a corener securing a 5-0 victory.
United face Wolves away in the next leg. Rossi will be the first name down on the team-sheet!
Man Utd: Howard, Bardsley, Pique, Brown (Neville 62), Silvestre, Solskjaer, Fletcher (Giggs 62), O'Shea (Ferdinand 62), Richardson, Rossi, Saha.
Subs Not Used: Van der Sar, van Nistelrooy.
Goals: Saha 7, Rossi 23, Richardson 52, Giggs 68, Rossi 90.
Burton Albion: Deeney, Sedgemore, Tinson, Austin, Corbett, Chris Hall (Webster 74), Stride, Ducros, Gilroy (Henshaw 86), Shaw (Anderson 26), Harrad.
