Lingard Wants Sheffield United Cup Defeat

Manchester United attacker Jesse Lingard admits he would love a repeat performance and result from his most memorable experience against Sheffield United, who are this weekend’s opponents in the Emirates FA Cup third round.

Lingard helped the Reds defeat the Blades in the FA Youth Cup final back in 2011, setting Paul McGuinness's side on their way to a 6-3 aggregate victory with the opening goal in the first leg at Bramall Lane. After a 2-2 draw there, the Reds ran out deserved 4-1 winners in the second leg at Old Trafford.

Lingard would love to play his part in a similar cup result this Saturday after returning to training from injury this week. “I played and scored against them in that FA Youth Cup final, which we won, so that’s a happy memory for me,” he explains in Saturday’s edition of United Review.

“My only FA Cup experience was my first game on loan for Derby County early last year, against Reading. It was a tough game and we ended up losing to a late goal after having a man sent off. So hopefully it’ll be a better result this time!”

Lingard grew up watching the Reds excel in the FA Cup and while he picks out Eric Cantona’s sublime lob in the victory over the Blades in 1995, he says Ryan Giggs’ famous solo goal in the 1999 semi-final and United’s last triumph in the competition 12 years ago are the biggest highlights for him.

“We haven’t won it since then but we feel like we have a good chance of getting our name on the trophy this season,” he added. “It’s a competition that’s still highly regarded in English football – we all want to win it and to do it this year would be a great feeling for us.”