As a Manchester City fan growing up in the 1990s Scott Davies had a tough time of it.
"Absolute torture" is how the Tranmere Rovers goalkeeper describes it. While the Blues suffered an ignominious decade that included a season in the third tier, Manchester United won trophy after trophy, including the 1999 treble in the year City narrowly escaped what is now League One.
So the turnaround over the last decade has been enjoyable for City fans who suffered back then. Now Blackpool-born Davies is planning on inflicting a bit more misery on the team who gave him so much hurt as a child.
After defeats to Liverpool and Burnley, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side end a difficult week as the potential victims of an FA Cup giant-killing, away to Davies' Tranmere on Sunday.
"Twenty years of my childhood and growing up as a teenager was absolute torture, so the last 10 years or so has been great,” the 32-year-old said.
“They always looked down on Man City over the years but now it’s turned around quickly. If myself and my football club can have an influence on them having another bad day then great.
“It would be unbelievable. I’ve already had plenty of text messages along those lines, from United supporters as well!"
Tranmere only booked their fourth round spot with an extra-time victory over Watford on Thursday night, but the boggy Prenton Park pitch could play in their favour against United.
Davies insists he'll be approaching the game as he always does, despite admitting a "hatred" for Sunday's opposition in his family.
The former Fleetwood Town goalkeeper goes to the Etihad as often as possible and is also a regular at City away games.
"I’m not a big lover of Man United, I’ll be totally honest, but on Sunday I’ll be totally professional and approaching it in a different manner," he said.
“I go to most home games and a lot of away games when we’re not playing Sunday and midweek games so I’ve been to plenty of derbies at Old Trafford and at City.
“There’s a big hatred for Manchester United in the family but on Sunday it’s purely professional.”
