February 6-12: A Ticket Stampede At Manchester But The Game Ends All Square

Monday 6:  There was chaos at Old Trafford yesterday when tickets for Manchester United's cup tie against Pompey went on sale. A two-mile queue stampeded when the gates opened, and police on horseback took 20 minutes to restore order.

Wednesday 8:  British Railways have arranged five "football specials" to carry Pompey supporters to Manchester for the big cup tie against United at Old Trafford on Saturday. Each train will have enhanced buffet facilities.

In addition to the five special trains to Manchester on Saturday, more than 40 coaches are expected to leave Portsmouth at around midnight on Friday. Many others have been arranged from the outlying towns. 

Fulham Reserves 1, Portsmouth Reserves 2 (Mid Week League)

Friday 10:  Last minute injury concerns have forced Pompey into delaying the naming of their team for tomorrow's big cup clash at Manchester United until tomorrow morning.

The Manchester United v Portsmouth FA Cup fifth-round match tomorrow is widely regarded as the tie of the round. Each club has a number well-informed observers readily tipping them for the league and cup "double". 

Tomorrow's Old Trafford showpiece will be watched by an all-ticket crowd of 55,000. Nearly 10,000 Pompey supporters will be travelling north, many of them leaving home before midnight tonight. 

The other FA Cup fifth-round fixtures tomorrow are:

Arsenal v Burnley

Chesterfield v Chelsea

Derby County v Northampton Town

Everton v Tottenham Hotspur

Leeds United v Cardiff City

Stockport County v Liverpool

Wolverhampton Wanderers v Blackpool

If tomorrow's Manchester United v Pompey FA Cup tie ends in a draw after 90 minutes the replay will take place at Fratton Park next Wednesday afternoon. The match will not be an all-ticket affair. 

Pompey Reserves entertain Fulham Reserves in a Combination Cup group match at Fratton Park tomorrow afternoon.

Saturday 11:  Thousands of Pompey supporters have been heading to Manchester for the big cup-tie at Old Trafford this afternoon. These folk boarded one of several special trains at the town station late last night.

These Manchester-bound Pompey fans were photographed just before boarding one of the 40 coaches lined up at Hilsea depot last night. 

Another group of Pompey supporters in fine spirits before the train journey north last night (pic). 

A coach load of Pompey supporters from the Hilsea Lines Sports and Social Club joined the exodus from the city last night (pic). 

Old Trafford is filling up quickly. Kick-off in this afternoon's big cup tie - Manchester United v Pompey - is in 15 minutes. 

Peter Harris returns, but an injury to Duggie Reid has ruled him out of this afternoon's big match. In a re-shuffled forward line Ike Clarke moves to inside-right, Jack Froggatt leads the line and Cliff Parker takes over on the left wing.

The full Pompey line-up is: Butler, Hindmarsh, Ferrier, Scoular, Flewin, Dickinson, Harris, Clarke, Froggatt, Phillips, Parker.

The whistle has sounded at the end of a pulsating cup-tie at Old Trafford, but 90 minutes of football couldn't separate the sides. 

Result: Manchester United 3 - 3 Pompey Pompey scorers: Clarke, Parker, Ferrier (pen) Att: 53,688

In an afternoon of breathless excitement at Old Trafford, Manchester United and Pompey shared six goals in their FA Cup fifth round tie. Brave Pompey twice drew level, from 2-0 and 3-2, to force a replay at Fratton Park next Wednesday afternoon. 

The atmosphere inside the ground was electric, and both teams were greeted with a tremendous roar. United went in front in the 24th minute, firing into an empty net after Ernie Butler collided with Delaney.

Butler had to leave the field for treatment. Pompey continued with 10 men, with Ike Clarke donning the goalkeeper's jersey.

After a few minutes Butler returned with his hand strapped and resumed his goalkeeping duties, but he could do little to stop Pearson from doubling United's lead with a header just before half time. 

Pompey now faced a real uphill struggle but within four minutes of the start of the second half they scored twice to put themselves on level terms. 

First, a corner kick from Peter Harris was headed on to Clarke, who scored from close range. Then, a minute later, Harris crossed for Cliff Parker to equalise. 

The Pompey supporters were really making themselves heard, and the excitement increased as the previously clear skies gave way to driving rain. 

Pompey fell behind again when Harry Ferrier inexplicably handled in the penalty area and Mitten scored from the spot-kick.

Pompey were throwing everything they had at United. After 68 minutes they were level again. Chilton handled in the area and Ferrier made amends for his earlier error by driving home the resulting penalty kick.

The closing minutes were packed with thrills, and most of the action was at the Manchester End, but there was no further scoring and the sides will have to meet again on Wednesday afternoon at Fratton Park.

This afternoon's Old Trafford attendance of 53,688 produced receipts of £6,361-15s-0d. 

Match Summary: Manchester United 3, Portsmouth 3

Match Summary: Portsmouth Reserves 1, Fulham Reserves 1

Pompey have reiterated that Wednesday afternoon's Cup replay against Manchester United at Fratton Park will NOT be an all-ticket affair. But club secretary Mr Dan Clarke is confident of a big turnout. "We are expecting a crowd of 50,000" he said. 

All today's FA Cup results. The draw for the quarter-finals will be made on Monday lunchtime. 

Elsewhere today, a number of spectators were injured when a fence collapsed during Stockport County's FA Cup tie with Liverpool. The attendance at Edgeley Park was 28,000.

In the Scottish Cup, angry spectators set fire to the stand at Cathkin Park today when it was announced that the Third Lanark v Celtic tie was to be postponed because of snow. A crowd of 29,000 had already paid their admission money. 

Sunday 12:  “POMPEY'S DRAMATIC RECOVER TO FORCE REPLAY" Ranger's report on the big match at Old Trafford (from last night's Football Mail)

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