Capital One Cup: Red Devils tackle Tractor Boys at Old Trafford

Manchester United welcome Championship outfit Ipswich Town to Old Trafford for the first time since September 2001, and will be looking to continue their recent rampant home form over a side they haven’t lost to in almost two decades.

In that previous visit to the red half of Manchester, the Tractor Boys suffered a 4-0 thumping at the hands of Sir Alex Ferguson’s men, thanks to goals from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Andy Cole, though they are 4/1 with Coral to cause an upset.

Louis van Gaal’s hosts are the odds-on 2/5 favourites to coast to their fourth home win of the campaign, having gone unbeaten with three victories and a draw so far at Old Trafford, and the Dutchman faces a rematch with an old foe in Mick McCarthy.

Ipswich boss McCarthy guided his former Republic of Ireland side to a shock triumph over Van Gaal’s then-Netherlands squad during a World Cup qualifying clash in 2001, which ultimately led to the Dutchman’s sacking from his first spell in charge.

The Barnsley-born Irishman will once again come into a similar scenario, with his underdogs aiming to overcome seemingly superior opposition, and he is hoping his players can mount a challenge in difficult surroundings during midweek.

“I am looking forward to Old Trafford. I haven’t had too many results there, probably none, and it is still a special place,” said McCarthy, who featured more than 100 times for United’s neighbours Manchester City as a player.

“It is one of the best clubs in the world with an amazing stadium to play at. Of course, it is almost impossible to try to blank that out.