<
>

Man United fan Ian Black aims to down his heroes in Shrewsbury FA Cup tie

Shrewsbury Town midfielder Ian Black has been cheering on Manchester United on all season -- but on Monday night he will be trying to knock them out of the FA Cup.

Black -- a United season ticket holder -- faces a United side he said had been "poor" this season in the fifth round at Old Trafford.

The 30-year-old former Rangers player, who joined the League One Shrews in September, watches United from the Stretford End.

He said Louis van Gaal's players were to blame for a disappointing season which hit a new low with Thursday's 2-1 Europa League defeat at Danish minnows Midtjylland.

He told the Mirror: "I have supported them a long time and it [playing against them] is an opportunity I never thought I would get. But having come down to England in September and been on a cup run, we have managed to achieve it and it is a box I can tick in my career."

Black said he had held a United season ticket for almost 20 years and added: "People will say 'glory hunter,' but 20 years of supporting them from Edinburgh to Manchester shows I am a willing supporter.

"They have been poor this season, but you can never write them off.

"Wayne Rooney has come out and said 'blame the players,' which is totally right and I totally agree. They are getting paid X amount of money to perform to the level they should be at that size of club and they have not done it.

"It is the manager's neck on the line, and I know he has a part to play in it, but he can only put the best team out at the time and they have certainly underachieved."

But he stressed that he never booed the United team "because I am a player" and explained: "I have been through bad spells, and the last thing the team needs is booing. You need to support them and pull them through it.

"But it would put massive pressure on Louis van Gaal if we can go and achieve a draw or win."