Jan 25, 2013 11:16 PM EST
Manchester United vs Fulham FA Cup Preview, Team News, Injuries, Predictions and Expected Lineups

Manchester United will have one thing on their mind when they host Fulham in the F.A. Cup fourth round - no drama, ensure it is as easy as they come.

While Fulham might be an English Premier League side capable of beating any outfit on their day, it is difficult to imagine anything but a United victory in this match at Old Trafford.

Sir Alex Ferguson will no doubt tinker with his team and make a few changes, but even with the fresh faces, it should be United who will advance to the next round. But then, the beauty of cup games is that it rarely pans out like you imagine.

One ace up Fulham's sleeve will be Dimitar Berbatov - the former Manchester United forward will be desperate to bring down his former team and show them what they missed after deciding to sell him.

Ferguson, who froze the forward out in his last season with the club, still has a lot of respect for the Bulgarian.

"I think Berbatov is Fulham's best player," Ferguson said. "I don't think he was a failure here. He did a great job here. He's a really good player but the problem was that I had choices and it's never easy at his age to be a part of those choices if he is not playing.

"Therefore, we were happy enough that he wanted first-team football and we gave him the opportunity to go to Fulham. I think, at his age, it was the right thing to do. I think he has done pretty well there.

"Fulham are a club that, in the last few years, have grown. There are very few clubs who have full houses every week and Fulham are one of them. They have progressed a lot. The UEFA Cup final helped them a lot and they have had a good finish in the league.

"So I don't think it's a big step down (for Berbatov). I think it's a step down to leave Manchester United for anyone in my mind. But it's not such a big step down that you could say he's given up any ambition. Fulham is a club that is ambitious.

United have not won the F.A Cup since 2004, and Ferguson is determined to end the drought this season.

"I think we all know that we haven't done as well in the FA Cup for a few years now," he added. "It's a cup which has fantastic appeal given our record in it.

"We have benefit of the home draw, which I always say we'll take that any time. It's going to be a challenge for us. But we would take playing anyone at home."

United, who trained for a week in Qatar to get away from the cold weather, will be without Ashley Young and Jonny Evans.

Fulham will miss the services of Karim Frei, Mahamadou Diarra and Simon Davies.

Expected lineups: Manchester United: Lindegaard; Rafael, Smalling, Jones, Buttner; Carrick, Cleverley, Valencia, Kagawa; Rooney, Hernandez.

Fulham: Schwarzer; Riether, Hughes, Hangeland, Richardson; Karagounis, Sidwell, Duff, Ruiz, Dejagah; Berbatov.

Prediction: 3-0 to United

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