Sheffield United travel to Gillingham this weekend for the FA Cup Third Round, setting Premier League matters aside before they next host West Ham United on 21st January following their winter break.
The meeting between the Blades and the Gills will be the first time in this competition. Additionally, the Blades have now been drawn away from in the Third Round for the fourth consecutive season after previously facing; Bristol Rovers (2020-21), Wolverhampton Wanderers (2021-22), Millwall (2022-23), and Gillingham (2023-24), away from Bramall Lane. The last time United was drawn at home in the Third Round was in 2019-20 when they hosted then-National League side AFC Fylde – the Blades won 2-1.
Sheffield United come into this fixture following a 2-0 defeat at Manchester City on 30th December in their final match of 2023.
The two teams last faced one another on 21st January 2017, en route to the Blades League One title-winning season. United had already won 2-1 at the Priestfield Stadium earlier in the season but was unable to complete a league double as the two teams shared a 2-2 draw at Bramall Lane. Chris Wilder’s side had taken the lead through Billy Sharp on 32 minutes after he quickly fired home Caolan Lavery’s cross. The S2 club looked like to losing the match in the second half after Josh Wright netted twice on 51 and 58 minutes to hand Gillingham the lead. However, their lead was short-lived as Keiran Freeman, who netted in Kent in that 2-1 win, acted quickest, after keeper Nelson stopped Lavery’s effort, and the full-back smashed home the rebound.
Last season the Blades reached the semi-finals, losing 3-0 to Manchester City at Wembley Stadium., after seeing off Millwall, Wrexham, Tottenham Hotspur, and Blackburn Rovers to reach the last four. They will be looking to achieve the same result this season or, who knows, go one better but, perhaps, the Blades would be suited to concentrating on their Premier League exploits.