United powerless before Gayle

THE holders went out of the English FA Cup last night, beaten by a Wimbledon team not unused to causing an upset or two and now looking forward to a home tie with First Division Queen's Park Rangers. And much of the rests of England may well be giving thanks that Marcus Gayle's 64th-minute winner for Wimbledon has prevented a record fourth successive final appearance for United.

Of course this was nominally a home tie for Wimbledon but, with the noisy influx, of 20,000 United supporters from all points south, Selhurst Park felt more like a junior Old Trafford.

This was the teams' third meeting in 10 days, including United's win tin the league and the 1-1 draw which precipitated this replay.

United had done well on that day, with a side depleted by injuries. Last night their team took on a more familiar appearance, though Andy Cole, making only his second start of the season, was preferred to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer up front as United aimed to preserve their record of not having lost in the FA Cup since the 1995 final.

The Premiership leaders were certainly in good form, coming into this game on a run of 14 games undefeated, including seven wins from their nine matches since Christmas.

Wimbledon, on the other hand had not won in their previous three matches, tiredness playing a big part, as they entered this, their sixth game in 17 days.

However, they approached the tie with typical bravado, drafting in Dean Holdsworth in order to attack United with three up front.

The policy kept United's defence more than busy. Holdsworth blasted over from 12 yards, then hit a shot from similar distance at Peter Schmeichel, and Kenny Cunningham saw a low cross buzz across the face of the goal without anyone getting a touch.

Wimbledon's best chance of the first half was created by Efan Ekoku, who cleverly beat Denis Irwin and was charging in on goal when Schmeichel suddenly appeared to block the shot in typically alert and fearless fashion.

United were stuttering as an attacking force, their only decent first-half chances saved by Neil Sullivan, first from Gary Neville's shot, then from Roy Keane's 25-yard pile-driver.

If United wanted to become only the second team to beat Wimbledon at home this season - they were already the first, in the opening game, which featured That David Beckham goal - they needed to find more penetration up front.

And who better to get United's pulse racing than Beckham himself, the young England player running at goal on 53 minutes before unleashing a special from 25 yards which dipped inches over.

Keane also shot wide and Ryan Giggs at Sullivan before the Wimbledon goalkeeper pulled off a stunning reflex save to deny Gary Pallister's point-blank header.

United were really cooking now with Karel Poborsky at last finding his feet and not those of Wimbledon players and Eric Cantona, Giggs and Cole also linking well.

But just when the visitors were thinking of turning the screw, Wimbledon went ahead. Holdsworth had already headed only inches wide from Vinnie Jones's long throw and on 64 minutes Wimbledon's hardman this time fed Cunningham down the right.

The full back sized up his options before firing in a perfect cross which swerved tantalisingly away from Schmeichel and, as Pallister and Ronny Johnson watched, landed perfectly on the head of Gayle who, unmarked, thundered the ball in from six yards.

United immediately sent on Solskjaer for the hapless Poborsky, playing three up front themselves now as they went in search of the equaliser.

It never came and Cantona experienced his first defeat in an FA Cup tie in 15 games.