Earlier in the season Fulham succumbed to a 3-0 defeat in Manchester without registering a single shot on target. But Saturday sees all the stats and trophies go out of the window as these two teams meet in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, at Craven Cottage, Fulham.

Fulham, under Roy Hodgson, have been a markedly better team than the one that survived in the Premier League last season by the skin of their teeth. Much of the improvement has been in the defence where Ghanaian John Paintsil has formed a formidable relationship with Norwegian Brede Hangeland.

This no-nonsense duo has helped Fulham to mid-table respectability despite a lack of fire-power from the attacking players. Andrew Johnson is the club’s top scorer with a measly six goals all season, only two more than Manchester United centre-back Nemanja Vidic.

This lack of a goal-scoring threat means that if Fulham are to stand any chance of beating the mighty United then Paintsil and his fellow defenders will have to have the game of their lives. The Ghanaian international is likely to be given the unenviable task of keeping Cristiano Ronaldo quiet. To do this he will have to use all his strength, speed, and patience.

Ronaldo is one of the world’s most talented footballers but also has the ability to wind up defenders through his theatrical takes on the tackles he receives. However, Paintsil is not one to back out of a challenge and it will be fascinating to watch these two go at it on Saturday afternoon.