Macclesfield and Weston-super-Mare carry the non-league hopes while fringe players need to seize their chances
Silly goals conceded, chances missed, a lead surrendered and points squandered against relegation fodder. On the face of things, Manchester United have changed manager but nothing else. The reality is different. They started slowly at Burnley, settling into a 4-2-3-1 formation that suits them – and pretty much every other team – far better than Ruben Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 before, midway through the first half, they started to play. The deployment of Bruno Fernandes close to the opposition goal, along with a wide player, Patrick Dorgu, playing on his natural side, meant Benjamin Sesko was, for the first time, provided with decent service. Then, following Jaidon Anthony’s equaliser, Darren Fletcher’s side risked defeat by going all out for the win – one nearly achieved through the timely introduction of Shea Lacey, a richly talented 18-year-old. Brighton will present far stiffer opposition but, for the first time in a long time, United are doing what United are meant to do. Daniel Harris
Manchester United v Brighton, Sunday 4.30pm (all GMT)
FA Cup fever endures in Macclesfield. Maxonians wishing to attend the visit of the holders were asked to queue for tickets the old-school way. Macclesfield Town reached the third round in 1987-88 as a non-league club, and met Premier League opposition in Chelsea, West Ham, Everton and Bolton when a fourth-tier Football League outfit. Macclesfield FC, the phoenix club formed in 2020, would go further than their forebears by beating Crystal Palace. Oliver Glasner’s team will play on the 4G pitch that has restored the football club to the heart of a community detached during the old club’s dog days. Rob Smethurst, who funded the new club, stepped aside in October, able to give little more both personally and financially. A team 14th in the National League North has more pressing concerns than the FA Cup but Saturday can show how far Smethurst and his cohorts, including the departed Robbie Savage, brought the club from the despair of extinction. John Brewin
