By Richard Bailey Last updated: 4th January 2009
Ferguson: Pleased with performance
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson insists he has not got a secret when it comes to defeating lower league teams in the FA Cup.
Ferguson was speaking after his side had comprehensively defeated Southampton 3-0 in the FA Cup third round at St Mary's; maintaining a record which has seen the Scot never lose to lower league opposition in the competition during his time at Old Trafford.
United handed an FA Cup debut to 18-year-old Danny Welbeck and he responded by opening the scoring on 20 minutes.
The game was effectively over as a contest eight minutes before the break when Saints striker Matthew Paterson was handed a straight red card for a lunge on Nemanja Vidic.
Nani then added a second from the spot after a dubious penalty decision and substitute Darron Gibson rounded off the scoring with a third late on.
"There's no secret, the important thing is the players must focus," Ferguson explained.
"You have to always hope you're not a shock. We're always saying that to the players, 'Don't shock us'."
Ferguson was quick to praise Welbeck and admitted that the player was only replaced by Wayne Rooney after 60 minutes because of a slight injury.
"He did fine, he just got a knock in the first half," he added.
"We knew all about his temperament and he's got an enthusiasm for playing but the potential is definitely there."
The Scot was also sympathetic towards young Southampton striker Paterson, who received his marching orders after just 37 minutes.
"It was rash so it was easier for the referee to send him off," the 67-year-old said.
"If the referee had booked him at the start then it could have settled him down. It was just enthusiasm I think."

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| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Monday 9th November | |
| The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON | |
| 19:45 | Millwall vs AFC Wimbledon |
| Wednesday 11th November | |
| The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON | |
| 20:00 | Rochdale vs Luton |
| Tuesday 17th November | |
| The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON | |
| 19:45 | Brentford vs Gateshead |
| 19:45 | Leyton Orient vs Tranmere |
| 19:45 | Mansfield vs Forest Green |
| 19:45 | Morecambe vs Carlisle |
| 19:45 | Stevenage vs Port Vale |
| Wednesday 18th November | |
| The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON | |
| 19:45 | Brighton vs Wycombe |
| Saturday 28th November | |
| The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON | |
| 15:00 | Accrington Stanley vs Barnet |
| 15:00 | Bath City vs Forest Green/ Mansfield |
| 15:00 | Bournemouth vs Notts County |
| 15:00 | Cambridge Utd vs York |
| 15:00 | Carlisle/ Morecambe vs Norwich |
| 15:00 | Gateshead/ Brentford vs Walsall |
| 15:00 | Gillingham vs Burton/ Oxford City |
| 15:00 | Hereford vs Colchester |
| 15:00 | Kettering vs Leeds |
| 15:00 | Milton Keynes Dons vs Exeter |
| 15:00 | Northampton vs Southampton |
| 15:00 | Northwich vs Lincoln City |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Sunday 8th November | |
| The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON | |
| Northwich 1 - 0 Charlton | |
| Burton Albion 3 - 2 Oxford City | |
| Wealdstone 2 - 3 Rotherham | |
| Saturday 7th November | |
| The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON | |
| Paulton 0 - 7 Norwich | |
| Bromley 0 - 4 Colchester | |
| Gillingham 3 - 0 Southend | |
| Grimsby 0 - 2 Bath City | |
| Stourbridge 0 - 1 Walsall | |
| Gateshead 2 - 2 Brentford | |
| York 3 - 2 Crewe | |
| Hereford 2 - 0 Sutton Utd | |
| Carlisle 2 - 2 Morecambe | |
| Rushden & D'monds 3 - 1 Hinckley Utd | |
| Milton Keynes Dons 1 - 0 Macclesfield | |
| Torquay 3 - 1 Cheltenham | |
| Shrewsbury 0 - 1 Staines Town | |
| Luton 3 - 3 Rochdale | |
| Port Vale 1 - 1 Stevenage | |
| Swindon 1 - 0 Woking | |
| Oxford Utd 1 - 0 Yeovil | |
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