Crawley boss Steve Evans looked forward to facing fellow Scot Sir Alex Ferguson and admitted: “It’s the tie of my dreams.”

Reds’ reward for becoming only the sixth non-league side since the War to reach the fifth round of the FA Cup is a dream date at Old Trafford against the most famous club in the world.

Evans was at his home near Peterborough when comedian Mark Watson became the most popular man in Crawley after he pulled out Crawley’s ball in the draw following Manchester United.

Evans said: “That’s the one I wanted. Two boys from Glasgow, one from Govan and the other from Cambuslang. One’s a Rangers supporter and the other Celtic. It just couldn’t be any better. He is the best manager in the world and we are going to the most famous club in the world. This is the tie of everyone’s dreams at Crawley Town and we are all looking forward to having the most wonderful day of a lifetime.

“It was just a surreal moment when we realised we’ve got the tie that everyone in the country wants.

“Let there be no mistake, everyone in football outside the big three or four want Manchester United at Old Trafford.”

Evans insists that Crawley won’t compromise the attacking approach that has seen them knock out three Football League clubs when they take on Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand and Co. He added: “We will approach this match in a really positive nature and if there is any non-League club capable of beating Manchester United it’s Crawley Town, because we have got the best players that have been at this level for a long time.

“We are more organised than others but it is going to need nothing short of miracles for us to win there but miracles do happen every 100 years or so! We will play three up front, like we did at Torquay on Saturday, as daft as it sounds.

“We have to play to our strengths while being mindful of the opposition.”

The club will hear this week when the game, which is almost certain to be televised, takes place but they are entitled to 15% of Old Trafford’s 75,000 capacity which means around 11,000 fans could make the trip from Crawley.