Matty’s fired-up for Fergie

GOING POTTY ... Lowton celebrates after scoring against Stoke

MATT LOWTON has no fears about stepping into an Old Trafford cauldron tonight in front of 75,000 baying Manchester United fans.

The Aston Villa defender says it will be a breeze compared to the Hun-believable scenes he witnessed as a kid trying to carve a career in Budapest.

Lowton was just 18 when Sheffield United sent him on loan to the Blades’ sister club Ferencvaros — the Manchester United of Hungarian football.

However the “Fradi’s” fanatical supporters’ idea of getting fired-up for a match once resulted in them setting FIRE to their own stadium because they were losing to hated rivals Diosgyori.

Lowton said: “The Ferencvaros fans are one crazy set of supporters.

“I remember playing in a game which was called off because we were losing 3-1 and the fans set the stand on fire! It was unbelievable.

“The referee took us off and the club was fined and ordered to play three games behind closed doors. It was all part of the learning experience for me.

“I was a late developer and getting the chance to play in Hungary was a welcome bonus as I didn’t really start playing first-team football with Sheffield United until I was 20.

“I just hung in there and tried to give my all in every game. The Manchester United fans are passionate and our fans have been sensational for us this season.

“But setting fire to the stadium — that’s taking things a bit far.”

Things might have become heated for Lowton at fiery Ferencvaros.

But he fanned the flames for Villa’s latest survival push with an injury-time scorcher of his own against Stoke recently to inspire a crucial 3-1 win.

His stunning chest control and blistering volley from 35 yards left £15million-rated keeper Asmir Begovic clutching at a vapour trail as the ball rocketed high into the roof of his net.

It was not a bad effort for a full-back that Paul Lambert plucked from League One obscurity and his manager claimed there would not have been a better goal in EUROPE that day.

Now Villa fans scream at Lowton to shoot even if he collects the ball in his own half.

The 23-year-old dad-of-two grinned as he recalled the outstanding volley which made the whole country sit up and take notice.

But he admits his first thoughts after scoring were not to celebrate his late winner... it was to prevent Stoke grabbing an equaliser.

He said: “I wasn’t thinking ‘What a brilliant goal’, I was thinking ‘We need to hold on and win the game’.

“That was the only thought in my head.”

It is fair to say a Lowton screamer tonight will probably not go down well with title-chasing United boss Alex Ferguson.

But it is unlikely the Salford Fire Brigade will be required to deal with the consequences!