After urging Football League clubs to adopt a more attractive style of game, Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp admitted his admiration yesterday for Wimbledon.

Ahead of their FA Cup tie with Manchester United, Redknapp said: "It was a new game they invented and so difficult to deal with. It was all set plays and long throws. They played to the system and worked their socks off. They never tried to out-play anyone.

"They'd bang on the dressing room door and Vinnie Jones would shout: "Come out, you bunch of cowards". Then they'd wait in the tunnel to look your players up and down, saying: 'We're gonna do you'."

But he ruled out adopting the Crazy Gang's tactics at Old Trafford.

"We could bash up Rio Ferdinand, he can't fight," laughed Redknapp. "But I wouldn't like to be the one who threatens Rooney, would you?"