Grayson expects tough time from classy ‘reserves’

The Elland Road club stunned Sir Alex Ferguson’s side in the FA Cup 20 months ago when Jermaine Beckford netted the only goal to seal a first win for Leeds at the home of their most bitter rivals in almost three decades.

Sir Alex Ferguson is expected to send out what amounts to a second string Red Devils side for tonight’s Carling Cup tie with the XI that were on duty in Sunday’s 3-1 win over Chelsea all being rested.

Grayson, however, believes the team that is likely to face his side still has sufficient quality to finish in the top six of the Premier League.

The Leeds manager said: “Being a Leeds United supporter and manager, it was a fantastic day when we won in the FA Cup. I was asked recently what I can remember from that day and I admitted I hadn’t had time to reflect on it since.

“I did, though, think about it a bit when at Old Trafford on Sunday for the Chelsea game. I was thinking about all those Leeds fans behind the goal and what a great achievement it was.

“It was right up there in terms of my management career, probably in the top two highlights along with winning promotion.

“But this is going to be a tougher test than when we went to Old Trafford. I believe that for a variety of reasons.

“One is the all-round quality and strength in depth they have in the squad. It is probably the strongest it has been for some time at Manchester United.

“You only have to look at the players who have not played much football this season to see how strong they are.”

Sir Alex Ferguson has named a host of experienced players in tonight’s 21-man squad with Dimitar Berbatov, Michael Owen, Ryan Giggs, Antonio Valencia, Michael Carrick, Jonny Evans, Phil Jones and Federico Macheda all likely to feature along with Paul Pogba, the young midfielder who was so instrumental in the Red Devils beating Sheffield United in last season’s FA Youth Cup final.

Grayson, who later this week is expected to tie up a deal to sign Danny Pugh on a loan deal that will become permanent in January, said: “I have asked all my staff to name what they think will be the Manchester United team against us. I bet of the 12 people I asked, none of them will get it right.

“If it is a team that is totally different to the Chelsea game, it is still a team that would do well in the Premier League. People say it was their reserve team in Benfica but that was a team that would be in the top six or seven of the Premier League.

“Another reason why I think it will be tougher is I think it hurt them when we won at Old Trafford. Sir Alex doesn’t like losing anything, whether it is football or horse racing or whatever, so he will send out a team determined to beat us.

“Revenge is too strong a word but I do think he will be looking to win and put his team into the next round.

“I have to say he was gracious in defeat in the FA Cup and very complimentary. It was clear he was gutted and devastated at losing but he was very good. He also gave me a few tips on what we needed to do to get promoted, which will remain between me and him.

“I also bumped into him at York Races the other week and we had a brief chat about things. I didn’t like to take up too much of his time but when you get the chance to speak to someone like Sir Alex you would be foolish not to take that chance.”

Grayson, who is without Paddy Kisnorbo through suspension, has several selection headaches of his own to solve with the United manager having to weigh the desire of wanting to beat Manchester United against the need to claim reward from Friday’s long trip to Brighton & Hove Albion.

He said: “Every manager will say the league is their bread and butter. Brighton on Friday night is the more important game this week in terms of the bigger picture.

“But now the Manchester United tie is here and knowing how much it means to the supporters, this has to be a high priority.

“If we were at Brighton on Saturday, I would definitely put my best team out. But I still have players who could come in and they all feel they can come in and book their places in the team for the rest of the season.”

Tonight’s televised third round tie is expected to attract a crowd of around 31,000 and is the first meeting of the two Uniteds at Elland Road in eight years.

Grayson added: “There is an intensity in the atmosphere and a buzz when we play Manchester United.

“Usually, a big rivalry is between clubs who are only 10 to 15 miles apart not an hour as is the case with us and Manchester United.

“It goes back many years and will continue for many more years. We have to respect them because they have been to Turkey and all these other European places, where everyone wants to beat Manchester United. But if any of their players are not aware of it then driving down the motorway to Elland Road should change that.”