The odds may be stacked against West Ham in tomorrow's fourth round FA Cup tie against Manchester United - but one man who isn't taking anything for granted is Reds boss Alex Ferguson.
It was almost two years ago to the day that Paolo Di Canio's 76th minute winner sent the East End into ecstasy when the Hammers knocked out Manchester United in the same stage of that season's FA Cup.Since that day the likes of Harry Redknapp, Frank Lampard (Jnr and Snr) and Hannu Tihinen have moved to pastures new. The new breed are struggling in the league with relegation a real possibility - and travel to Old Trafford minus five key first team players tomorrow.
But the beauty of the FA Cup is that the unexpected can always happen - as it did in 2001, and as the 10,000 travelling Hammers fans who will converge on Old Trafford tomorrow lunchtime hope it will again.
One man acutely aware of the challenge which lies ahead is Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson. His supporters may dismiss West Ham's challenge before a ball has even been kicked - but the Scot is under no such illusion.
"Despite their position, West Ham have played with freedom. They have quality in their team and they have always played football," Ferguson said earlier.
"That’s not changed in the games I’ve watched them. That was the case when they played us a few weeks ago. In fact I'm amazed that they are where they are in the league.
"The FA Cup might be the fillip they need in terms of a different type of competition.
"But they know the most important thing for them is to be in the Premier Division. And any team that continues to play attacking football as they have done deserves to."
And it's not just Ferguson who remains wary of the Hammers, despite their precarious position in the league. Uruguayan striker Diego Forlan, a player who has hit real form of late added:
"I think it will be a tough game. West Ham need to win, they want to win, and so they will really try to beat us.
"I'm sure that if you ask them they would say that they would want to play Premier League football, they don’t want to go down. That will be their first target, but it is good to play in the FA Cup.
"They played against us and lost last time, but they play a good game and they have good players. When you play against a team that has lost games it can be difficult. They want to win and that makes it difficult.
"It’s going to be a real test."
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