Sir Alex Ferguson will have the perfect opportunity to hand out a dose of revenge when his Manchester United team take on Tottenham in the fourth round of the FA Cup later this month.

Ferguson was left fuming last season when Portsmouth - under the stewardship of Harry Redknapp - knocked the champions out of the competition with a 1-0 victory in the quarter-final at Old Trafford.

The United boss got in trouble with the Football Association for attacking the performance of referee Martin Atkinson, who he claimed should have awarded his team a penalty before Sulley Muntari scored the winner from his own spot-kick.

Now, after Ferguson watched his team beat Southampton 3-0 in the third round, he will face Redknapp again in the Cup after the two were paired together in yesterday's draw.

"We went out to Harry last season because of a penalty kick," said Ferguson.

"That's what sudden death is like and is the beauty of the competition.

"But, hopefully, he doesn't have the same luck he did last year. If he does, we've got no chance."

Ferguson was helped yesterday by a wreckless challenge by Matt Paterson on Nemanja Vidic that earned the youngster a red card.

The Saints were already a goal down to Danny Welbeck's 19th-minute opener before Paterson was dismissed by referee Mike Riley.

Southampton head coach Jan Poortvliet was upset by Riley's decision to dismiss the 19-year-old eight minutes before the interval but Ferguson claimed the youngster paid the price for his "over-enthusiasm".

Saints skipper Kelvin Davis, who kept the scoreline down with a string of superb saves, said: "When you go down to 10 men against Manchester United then you know it is going to be very tough.

"But he is a young lad and hopefully he will learn from it. He went for a ball that maybe wasn't there to be won but he is an honest lad and certainly would not have meant to hurt anyone."

Poortvliet was upset with Riley's decisions all afternoon and claimed United's first goal was offside, that Paterson should not have walked and United's second-half penalty, awarded for handball, was a "cheap" decision.

"I know the boy very well, it was a normal tackle," Poortvliet said. "I was disappointed by the decisions in the game."

Welbeck opened the scoring in the 19th minute when Nani's corner was headed against the crossbar by John O'Shea and the striker had the simple task of nodding home the rebound from point-blank range.

Nani scored United's second from the penalty spot after his free-kick hit David McGoldrick's raised arm and substitute Darron Gibson smashed home a late third to notch his first goal for the club. United's clash with Spurs is one of a number of mouthwatering fourth-round ties.

Liverpool and Everton will face each other twice in the space of five days - once in the League - and then in the Cup at Anfield.

It is the first time the Merseryside clubs have met since the 1989 final, won 3-2 by Liverpool.

New Nottingham Forest boss Billy Davies faces a tie against his former club Derby, while Torquay, of the Blue Square Premier League, face a home match with Coventry.

Hartlepool were rewarded for their superb win against Stoke with a home tie against West Ham.

Other games to catch the eye include a game between last season's beaten finalists Cardiff and north London giants Arsenal, in a repeat of the 1927 final.

Holders Portsmouth will play Histon or Swansea at home if they win their replay against Bristol City.