Manchester United ended Cambridge United’s FA Cup adventure with a 3-0 victory in their FA Cup replay at Old Trafford.

The two sides had drawn a blank in the game at the Abbey Stadium 10 days ago forcing a money spinning replay for the League Two side.

And they almost sprung another surprise in front of a crowd of over 74,000 when striker Tom Elliott’s effort hit the post after just 50 seconds.

But the 11-time winners of the cup dominated proceedings and took the lead through Juan Mata before Marcos Rojo headed in a second.

James Wilson's first ever FA Cup goal sealed the victory in the second-half to set-up a fifth round away tie with League One side Preston North End.

Following the game Louis van Gaal now believes his side have a real chance of lifting the trophy at Wembley in May.  

He said: “We have a real chance now. Why? We are the highest qualified team in the FA Cup so our status is the highest club so the possibility, people are maybe betting on us. I am not allowed to. I give you a tip.”

“I am not a casino man. But of course I think the highest qualified teams have more possibilities to win than lower qualified teams that is why everyone is in favour of Cambridge tonight. 

“But Arsenal is still in the cup and also a very high competitor. Liverpool is also there and will fight tomorrow.”

Manchester United went into the game having lost just one of their last 41 FA Cup matches against lower league opponents while Cambridge last reached the fifth round of the FA Cup in 1999-2000.

But it was the side who sit 79 places below their hosts who should have taken the lead inside the first minute, Elliott capitalising on a slip from Daley Blind only for his shot to rebound off the post.

Despite the early scare United dominated possession but without really troubling the Cambridge defence, Wayne Rooney’s header at the back post their bast chance to break the deadlock in the opening exchanges.

The U’s continued to stand up to the challenge as United probed looking for the opener which finally came midway through the first-half.

Angel Di Maria’s chipped ball into the area was flicked on by Marouane Fellaini, his header down finding Mata inside the six yard area who poked the ball home.

And United were two up seven minutes later when Rojo headed home a Robin van Persie cross.

Ryan Donaldson had a chance to get his side back into the game five minutes before the interval but the midfielder dragged his shot across the goal and wide of David de Gea’s right-hand post.

The home side continued to dominate after the break with Rooney, van Persie and Di Maria all thwarted by the excellent Cambridge goalkeeper, Chris Dunn.

But the game was over as a contest when substitute Wilson took a shot from 20 yards out which bounced underneath Dunn and into the back of the net.

Despite the defeat Cambridge boss Richard Money said he was “extremely proud” of his players efforts.

He also claimed that the tie left the club “safe and stable financially” with the replay generating an estimated £1 million for the side from the fourth tier of the English league system.  

“We are not going to have a spending spree in the summer and have one massive effort to be promoted,” said Money. 

“We need to grow. We need a new stadium and a new training ground or new facilities at the training ground. That is what the cup run will do for us.”