14/02/2015 - ManUtd.com, Alex Urquhart-Cannon
Preview: Preston North End v Manchester United
Scene-setter: After initially drawing*0-0 at Cambridge, United reached the FA Cup's fifth round with relative ease in the replay, dispatching the League Two side 3-0 at Old Trafford. However, Louis van Gaal won't take League One club Preston lightly - “Preston will not be a piece of cake” were his words on discovering the Reds' next opponents in the competition. With the club's league campaign firmly on track after the midweek win over Burnley, the boss will be hoping the distraction of a home replay won't be required in the Cup this time and he'll be urging his players to get the job done at Deepdale.
Form guide: United have enjoyed a steely streak in recent months, losing only once in the last 18 outings, but the last couple of games have not made for comfortable viewing. Daley Blind’s last-gasp equaliser at West Ham*proved on the one hand that the Reds still have a ruthless knack of snatching important points but it also showed how narrowly a damaging defeat was averted. Then Burnley, spearheaded by energetic goalscorer Danny Ings, threatened to leave Old Trafford with at least a draw in midweek until substitute defender*Chris Smalling became United's surprise hero. Preston, meanwhile, haven’t allowed a torrid run of January results to jeopardise their hopes of promotion from League One - they have won all of their February fixtures so far with victories over Coventry and Chesterfield following their FA Cup triumph over Sheffield United. An impressive run of seven straight successes earlier in the season elevated Preston into second spot, and the Lancashire club's promotion hopes remain intact as they're currently fourth.*
Team news: Michael Carrick is United’s only certain absentee at present, as the midfielder continues his recovery from a ruptured calf muscle. Louis van Gaal is waiting to see if he can include Phil Jones and Daley Blind after the pair were forced off against Burnley, and he added Robin van Persie to the doubtful list on Friday without specifying the problem in his press conference.*Luke Shaw is once again available after serving his one-game suspension for two bookable offences against West Ham. North End welcomed back top scorer Joe Garner from a long-term knee injury earlier this month, and the forward netted both of the Lilywhites’ goals in their win over Chesterfield on Tuesday. His fellow striker Jermaine Beckford is unavailable with an ear problem, but Preston hope to include Callum Robinson in their squad after the Aston Villa loanee returned to training this week following a hamstring issue.
Opposition boss: Simon Grayson has spent his managerial career so far below the top flight of English football and has drawn plaudits for his record of leading sides to promotion from League One. Over a five-year period, Grayson has helped three different clubs – Blackpool, Leeds United and Huddersfield Town – into the Championship and has his sights set on following suit with Preston.
Rivals watch: Liverpool head to London for a Saturday tea-time cup tie, hoping to exorcise the demons of back-to-back away league defeats against a Crystal Palace side now under the stewardship of Alan Pardew - the man whose goal knocked the Merseysiders out at the semi-final stage in 1990 and set up a Wembley date with United. On Sunday, Arsenal host Middlesbrough, who will no doubt travel to the Emirates Stadium fearless on the back of eliminating Manchester City at the Etihad.*Chelsea, Tottenham and Southampton all joined City in exiting the competition in the fourth round, leaving West Ham in fourth place on the tournament betting list. They travel to West Brom for a tough tie on Saturday.
Match officials: Phil Dowd will take charge of Monday evening's proceedings, with Michael Mullarkey and David Bryan as his assistants. David Webb will be the game’s fourth official.