Dave Edwards lays it all out for Shrewsbury

That's the view of former Shrewsbury Town midfielder Dave Edwards as he backed his old club in tonight's FA Cup fifth round tie.

Edwards is now at Wolves but remains a lifelong Town fan who will be roaring Micky Mellon's side on with his son Jack at the game.

United make their first competitive visit to Shrewsbury in the midst of an injury crisis and, having lost their last two games, with further pressure cranking up on manager Louis van Gaal.

And Edwards reckons United won't fancy being out of their comfort zone in League One surroundings. The 30-year-old made 132 appearances in blue and amber from 2003-07.

He said: "Just knowing football and how the Manchester United players will be feeling, they will really hate coming to the Meadow.

"Trust me, as a player, after what they've been through, to then face so-called lower opposition in a cup tie is the worst type of game possible for them.

"The away changing room at the Meadow isn't the biggest – I've been in it before and things like that might get to them.

"Town could have done with the groundsman leaving the pitch to grow for a few days and maybe train on it a few times before the game. United won't enjoy coming here one bit.

"It will be a packed stadium, it's a tight pitch, they know Shrewsbury are going to give it absolutely everything and that most people watching the game will be wanting Shrewsbury to win.

"So not much good can come from it for United, apart from getting a positive result.

"It's probably the last chance of United winning a competition this season, or certainly their most realistic chance of silverware.

"It means they can't really afford to rest anyone either, so it's set up for a big game."

Edwards believes Shrewsbury's best chance of causing an upset is to press United as much as possible early on.

He said: "It's up to Shrewsbury to make it as uncomfortable as they can.

"You do that by being right in their faces for the first 10, 15 minutes and if you can get some reward from that, you keep going as long as you can.

"I can guarantee every Shrewsbury player will be on their last legs with 10, 15 minutes to go because they'll give that much.

"But you can't afford to leave anything out there, because that's the way you get results against teams like that.

"Don't let their quality show and be all over them like a rash and, hopefully, get the crowd to carry you through that last 15 minutes.

"Shrewsbury have performed so well in the cups in recent years and it would be great if they could avoid conceding in the first 20 minutes.

"If they can nick a goal, as well, I'm sure it will be an enthralling encounter."

Only Zak Whitbread of Town's likely starters has faced United at first-team level before.

Mellon has urged Town to embrace the occasion as much as possible if it means getting more out of them and Edwards believes they need to savour it.

The Wales international said: "If I was them I'd be desperate to remember it, because the first few times I played against bigger teams internationally.

"In the Premier League, it can pass you by quite quickly. I think it's important that they're there in the moment and they enjoy it, because playing big FA Cup games doesn't happen that often.

"They just need to leave everything on the pitch – that's what the fans want, for them to give everything and I'm sure that's what they'll do."

There are two divisions, 60 places and multi-millions of pounds between the teams.

But just as they did when he watched them beat Everton in the third round in 2003 and against Chelsea in the Capital One Cup last season, Edwards is convinced Town will raise their game.

He continued: "I do expect them to. It's strange, but lower-league teams tend to do that.

"People say 'why can't they do this every week?' but there's so much on this game that they might just run a little bit harder for a ball or they might break their neck to make a tackle.

"These things can make a difference. They've got players maybe suited to play against better opposition.

"There are players who will enjoy having a bit more time on the ball than they'd get in League One on a bobbly Bloomfield Road at the weekend.

"It will be a lot different to that. They've got to relish it and I'm sure everyone will be so desperate to do well – it's televised, a full house so they'll definitely put in a good performance.

"Playing against that quality brings the best out in you – if you see yourself getting the better of Anthony Martial or someone, it doesn't half boost your confidence.

"I'm sure that's what they're aiming to do. That's what Shrewsbury players of the past have done. I remember the Everton game where Pete Wilding came out of it tremendously well.

"He was a really good, honest player and for him to mark the emerging talent of Wayne Rooney, who went on to become England's greatest goalscorer out of the game was magnificent.

"Luke Rodgers was immense that day too and Nigel Jemson got the two goals and everyone remembers 'Jemmo' for that.

"For someone to have the chance to do that again is great."

In striker Andy Mangan, Town have a player who seems to reserve cup games for some of his most memorable performances.

The bubbly Scouser scored against Chelsea and Leicester in the League Cup last season and bagged the only goal at Cardiff in the FA Cup third round this term.

He also set up Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro to net against Sheffield Wednesday in the fourth round. Edwards believes Shrewsbury have big-game players who will rise to the occasion.

He said: "I think a lot of it is to do with character – some players go into their shells on the big stage, other players absolutely relish it and feel like that's where they meant to be and put in big performances."

Despite playing in the Premier League, winning the Championship and League One as well as a stack of Wales caps, Edwards has never been further than the fourth round of the cup.

And he admits to being jealous of the blue and amber heroes who will take to the pitch tonight.

He said: "I'm jealous and envious of not being out there on the pitch, but I'll be there cheering them on. I love the FA Cup but it's a competition I've never done particularly well in.

"We had a good game at West Ham where we lost narrowly 1-0 in January but the fourth round is the best I've done – we played Middlesbrough at Molineux and lost 2-1.

"So I'd love to go on a cup run and for these boys it's amazing."

As a player himself, Edwards doesn't get much chance to watch Town, so is relishing the prospect of cheering them on with his son Jack.

He added: "It's going to be great. My lad wears a Shrewsbury shirt and he's a fan, too.

"I asked him the other day who his favourite teams are and he's got four at the moment – Shrewsbury, Wolves, Barcelona and Real Madrid!

"He wants to play for Portugal as well, but I don't know where that fits in! We'll have to go and live there for a few years! But he just absolutely loves football.

"I was lucky enough to watch Joe Hart play at Manchester City a week yesterday with him and just to do that was quite special because I don't get a chance to do that very often, with me playing football myself.

"We sat down and watched the draw together. I explained we're playing Manchester United and he thought it was happening straight away and would be on telly!

"As a family man now, it's nice to share these moments with your kids and hopefully bring through another generation of Shrewsbury fans."

The last of the 9,875 tickets were sold on Saturday, meaning there will be just over 8,000 Town fans inside the Meadow – much more than the average of around 5,000.

Games like tonight's are a chance to entice the fans of tomorrow and Edwards hopes Shrewsbury can attract the next generation.

He said: "I think this is where the club have to capitalise on it and I'm sure they have done.

"All the kids can get Shrewsbury scarves and shirts and it will only help the team put on a good performance and that can only help them come back."

Town slipped back into the relegation zone at the weekend courtesy of Fleetwood's 2-1 win over Scunthorpe, but Edwards believes the cup run will only help their survival bid.

He said: "I remember the season they beat Everton it went against them, because they got relegated. But it's a different team now and I think the cup run can only boost confidence.

"They just need to make sure if they don't get the right result, it doesn't affect their league form. I'm sure Micky Mellon and the coaching staff won't allow that to happen."

Town, who are appearing in the fifth round for the first time in 25 years, are the lowest-ranked club left in the competition Edwards believes the tie has helped the cup regain its old magic.

He said: "I don't know if it's because I'm a Shrewsbury fan and we're still in it but in general it's found its magic again so they have to enjoy it.

"If they do that, I'm sure they'll play with confidence after a good result last weekend and they have nothing to lose."