Aston Villa has become David O'Leary's penance for past excesses. Say three Hail Marys, my son, and learn wisdom at the knee of Deadly Doug. He will teach you the true value of a fiver.
O'Leary's management must share the blame for the collapse of Leeds United, where he persistently encouraged his chairman, Peter Ridsdale, into a splurge of spending that defied all logic.
Chastened by Aston Villa's deserved defeat against Sheffield United, he must imagine once again that it is nothing £60 million could not put right.
Instead, he spoke so supportively of Doug Ellis' "prudence" that he must have brought tears to the old fella's eyes.
The evidence here suggests that O'Leary's managerial credentials are about to receive their toughest test. His defence lacked authority, his midfield was given the run-around for all but the first 15 minutes of the second half, and his strikers, Juan Pablo Angel and Carlton Cole, presumably empathise with the German scientific study that claims too much exercise is bad for you.
United were a total surprise. They have long been dismissed as long-ball scufflers, and Neil Warnock's managerial reign had done little to shake the notion. But they overflowed with surging midfield runs, ambitious flicks and neat interplay. They were a delight to watch. Maintain this form and promotion is possible.
Warnock is also the most watchable manager around. You know when his blood pressure is up because his glasses virtually explode off his face, at which point he gives them a quick once-over and puts them on again.
Referees are treated to a non-stop stream of bias. And, at the whistle, on grand FA Cup days like this, he wanders proudly around the pitch, applauding everyone in sight.
What an FA Cup record he is assembling. United were quarter-finalists last season and semi-finalists the season before.
Until he stumbles on a goalscorer in the mould of Michael Brown, 20-odd goals two seasons ago, he remains downbeat about United's chances of progressing.
But he had heroes on Saturday: Alan Wright captained inspirationally as left-central defender, Michael Tonge and Alan Quinn stood out in a rampant midfield and Andy Liddell, a free transfer from Wigan last season, scored twice in the second half as they stormed back from a goal down.
Villa needed Sorensen's springing block of Phil Jagielka's header to reach the break without conceding. Then, within a minute of the restart, they led when Gareth Barry, their most stalwart performer, swerved one past Paddy Kenny into the roof of the net with his weaker right foot.
United's response was swift, Jon Harley's short corner leaving Jlloyd Samuel and Mark Delaney in a tizz at the near post and Danny Cullip stabbing the ball past Sorensen.
Then Liddell, who was about to be substituted, scored two fortunate goals within a minute.
He was offside for the first, as Alan Quinn flicked on, but the officials thought the header was from Samuel; his second deflected off Samuel's knee and Sorensen made a hash of it.
