The FA are confident England's major clubs will not start using a little-known rule to undermine the tradition of FA Cup replays. Manchester United and Tottenham, both severely hampered by injuries and with a fixture backlog looming, had considered playing extra-time - and possible penalties - in their fourth-round tie at Old Trafford on Saturday in the hope of getting a result.

As it turned out, Spurs boss Harry Redknapp would not have agreed, while Sir Alex Ferguson was only lukewarm to the idea, which was not possible anyway as the FA had not been notified within seven days of the fourth-round draw taking place.

The rule exists to aid smaller clubs in the very early stages of the competition who might be facing financially-draining replays they cannot afford to stage.