United chairman Ken Bates labelled ITV's coverage of Sunday's FA Cup second round clash at Histon as "dreadful and amateurish."

Like 1000s of United fans, the United chairman followed the game live on television and was quick to voice his disappointment at the level of coverage.

"The coverage was absolutely dreadful and amateurish," he told Yorkshire Radio. 

"I think the people who run Strictly Come Dancing probably did it rather than anybody to do with football.

"On the technical side nobody had the wit to wipe the lenses clean of the rain and it was like watching through a fish pond.

"They interviewed their chairman during the match, and they went in their dressing room. We wouldn't allow them in our dressing room because we were there for a game of football not for a circus.

"We had shots of Gary in the dug-out. 'Cowering' somebody said - the fact is he was very poorly and probably should haven't even been there.

"We had shots of the two commentators on the scaffold and plenty of shots of the supporters and this was all while the game was going on.

"The commentary was biased and it was appalling, but that's what you get."

The game, of course, ended in defeat for United and the chairman was quick to draw a line under the 1-0 reverse.

"The fact of the matter is that we were knocked out, and that's the end of it," he added. 

"It was very disappointing. The pitch was dreadful - I suspect if it hadn't have been live on TV it would have be cancelled - but they adapted to the conditions better than we did and good luck to them in the next round.

"The interesting thing is that they now have Swansea, who got knocked out by Havant and Waterlooville last season.  

"After that, they went on a run that took them to the League One Championship. Lets hope that's an omen."