2004–05 Manchester United F.C. season saves, but Wayne Rooney put the tie beyond doubt late on with a cool finish. Exeter had chances of their own, Sean Devine twice volleying wide and Andy Taylor forcing Tim Howard to save. Manchester United marched into the Fifth Round of the FA Cup with a 3–0 win against Middlesbrough at Old Trafford on 29 January. John O'Shea put the defending champions in front after 10 minutes from close range. Wayne Rooney then brilliantly lobbed Mark Schwarzer from fully 40 yards after 67 minutes to double United's lead, before firing home a stunning volley with nine minutes left. Boro's
2009–10 Manchester United F.C. season first-leg defeat at Bayern and the previous League defeat by Chelsea), United were looking to bounce back against a team that had not lost a home game since the previous August. Wayne Rooney was out injured and so Federico Macheda was up front with Dimitar Berbatov. Although United pressed hard and played the better football, they could not find their way past a resolute Blackburn defence and the game ended 0–0. United then went to the City of Manchester Stadium to face Manchester City in the fourth Manchester derby of the season. United needed to win to have any chance