Countdown to big kick-off

The odds against a Cobblers victory are 14-1 but the fans are undeterred

Football fans in Northampton are counting down to their home team's FA Cup tie with the most famous club in the world.

The Cobblers take on Manchester United at Sixfields in the fourth round of the FA Cup.

Northampton Town lie 83 places below Manchester United on the League ladder.

The last time these two teams met was 34 years ago.

On February 7 1970 George Best became a record-breaker for scoring six goals in an FA Cup match - the Red Devils won the match 8-2.

Kick-off

Now although the odds on a home victory are 14-1, the Cobblers will have no shortage of support.

Despite raising ticket prices by 50%, the match quickly sold out once Northampton confirmed their fourth round place with a replay win at Rotherham.

A capacity crowd of 7,500 will be at Sixfields stadium and at least one season ticket holder will be jetting back from America to be at the game.

The fourth round tie will bring the club almost £500,000, no matter what the outcome.

But given live television coverage and the wider public interest, the players are determined to avoid the kind of mauling their predecessors suffered in 1970.

The match kicks off at 1605 GMT.