When the draw was made manager Steve Tilson spoke on TalkSport and dared Sir Alex Ferguson to bring his strongest side. After Crewe Alexandra had forced his second string to extra time, before they got the better of them.

Tilson’s wish came true when he heard that Rooney and Ronaldo would be in the squad travelling to Roots Hall. He must have been lost for words when he read the team sheet that had only two players that were not regulars in the united first team, and one of those was Polish international Tomasz Kuszczak.

The home team played well and left Ferguson with a number of questions to ask his players. Freddy Eastwood scored a fantastic free kick to put the Shrimpers in front, bending the ball around the wall just out of the reach of the out stretched Kuszczak.

With little left on the bench and less still in the tank Manchester United were kept out by the brilliant saves of Flahavan, who frustrated Rooney and Ronaldo. Picking up a yellow card for making adjustments to the studs on his boots.

Southend United go through to the draw for the quarterfinal, which will be drawn live on SkySports 1 on Saturday 11th November. Having conquered the league leaders they will have no fear of their next opponents.