Eastwood floors his United idols as Southend spoil Fergie's 20th anniversary party

Shrimpers' delight: Freddy Eastwood's stunning free-kick beats a flying Tomasz Kuszczak
14 April 2012

Freddy Eastwood sent his beloved Manchester United out of the Carling Cup last night and brought Sir Alex Ferguson's anniversary celebrations to an abrupt end.

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United fan Eastwood's 27th-minute screamer denied the holders a place in the quarter-finals but Ferguson, who celebrated 20 years at Old Trafford last weekend, said there would be no "suicides" or "mass sackings" as a consequence of the defeat.

Southend manager Steve Tilson, whose side are bottom of the Championship, paid tribute to Eastwood, a signing from non-League Grays Athletic who has had Premiership scouts flocking to Essex all season. Tilson said: "Since we took Freddy he has been a revelation. His goal-scoring record is incredible.

"We've had them here all year and we will wait and see what happens in January.

"At least we can put up the price a bit now. People are not going to come in and make silly offers. The chairman doesn't want to sell him but he is worth good money."

United fielded a team packed with internationals, including Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo, and Tilson added: "I saw the team sheet with Rooney and Ronaldo and just wondered if we could keep it down. I wanted to keep the scoreline respectable.

"The confidence has not been great and I was worried what would happen if they got four, five, or even six.

"It probably means more to beat a team with those players in it."

Ferguson put the result down to the beauty of cup football, saying: "I've been here 20 years and it's a reminder that things can sometimes smack you in the face and I'm not impervious to them.

"As a team we can start to work again. You don't look back, you have to look forward. We are all disappointed but there will be no overreaction, no suicides, no mass sackings, no need for counselling but maybe a bit of recrimination."

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