Crawley Town look to use Manchester United lesson in FA Cup tie against Stoke City - Goal.com

Crawley Town manager Steve Evans is hoping his side can use their loss to Manchester United in last year's FA Cup to help them overcome Stoke City.

The narrow 1-0 defeat at Old Trafford ended a magical cup run that the West Sussex side have managed to emulate this time round.

Derby County, Bristol City and Hull City have all fallen at their hands and they have been rewarded with a home tie against the Premier League Potters.

Evans hopes the club can use the experiences gained 12 months ago in Manchester to put up another creditable performance.

Evans told The Guardian: "There are not many days where you get beaten and say, 'I'll remember that day forever', but we will remember that one. If we lose this time, I just want us to lose with dignity.

"Sir Alex Ferguson paid us all the compliments afterwards. That is a day that will never be lost."

After pushing United to the end, Evans hopes the failure can feed a desire not to taste that disappointment again. He recalled: "Three or four players were devastated and upset, because they knew that was our chance to beat Manchester United. And it just didn't happen for us, because I think they knew we had run them close."

The outspoken Glaswegian boss and his side have surprisngly made few fans as cup underdogs but this isn't something that fazes them.

"It doesn't bother me one bit, people are always going to have a dislike of somebody else doing well."