JOE KINNEAR got in the last blow yesterday in the phoney war that preceded the English FA Cup fourth round tie between Wimbledon and Manchester United at Old Trafford this afternoon.

"Beating them is a massive task because as far as I'm concerned we might as well be facing Barcelona," said the Wimbledon manager. That is how highly I rate United as both a team and a club. They are on a par with the best in Europe and probably only Barcelona can be mentioned in the same breath.

"At Old Trafford you have not only got a great side, a great club and a great manager, you have a mega sized institution worth multi millions. How can we be called a threat?"

The Wimbledon manager hit back in kind after suspecting that the United manager was playing mind games after the fourth round draw was made. Ferguson said then that Wimbledon have the ability to be a major threat to his club's dominance of the English game.

Ferguson denies his remarks were just soft soap designed to psyche out the opposition. "I think everyone respects Wimbledon now," he said. "They had their period in the early days when they were not such a nice team, but now I think they play in the right spirit," added Ferguson.

Kinnear, despite his sincere admiration for the FA Cup and League double champions whom his team must visit again in the Premiership on Wednesday, said: "We won't be going there with any fear. To be fair, Alex has been one of the few who has always given us credit."

Only five teams have beaten Wimbledon this season, but United were the first on the opening day when David Beckham's amazing 50 yard lob sealed a 3-0 success at Selhurst Park.

On what is a scheduled fourth round weekend, there are third round and third round replay matches also on the agenda after the clutch of postponements because of the bad weather this year.

Non league Woking could provide the day's shock when they visit Coventry in the third round, while Leeds United and their manager George Graham could earn a fourth round meeting with Graham's old club Arsenal if they defeat Crystal Palace at Elland Road this afternoon.

Tomorrow, there are two televised all Premiership Cup meetings, with the Chelsea v Liverpool clash promising to be the tie of the round.

The Premier teams in Scotland also enter the Cup fray this weekend, with Celtic facing Clydebank tomorrow in the third round.