The unfashionable first division side are hoping to emulate what is widely regarded as the biggest Cup final shock when Sunderland, then in the old second division, beat holders Leeds United 1-0 in 1973.

Few give the south Londoners much hope in their first FA Cup final against a United side who knocked out Arsenal, winners of the competition the last two years, in the semi-finals and are desperate to salvage something from a below-par season.

Their hopes of retaining the premier league title were hammered by the suspension of England defender Rio Ferdinand in January and they finished third, 15 points behind champions Arsenal after nine defeats.

United's Champions League campaign was ended in the second round by Porto's late equaliser at Old Trafford, sending the 1999 European champions tumbling to a 3-2 aggregate defeat.

"It doesn't figure in terms of disappointment if you win the FA Cup. You can't be disappointed," United manager Alex Ferguson said.

"It's a trophy and it's an important trophy. The romance of the FA Cup has been with Manchester United for a long, long time."