Four times FA Cup winners, Sheffield United, reached the Quarter-Finals in last season’s competition and were only 90 minutes away from a trip to Wembley. Despite playing out a dire campaign that ended in relegation from the Premier League, the Blades managed to forge a decent cup run.
The Blades made it to the Quarter-Finals where they eventually bowed out at Chelsea but had enjoyed a good run after beating Bristol Rovers, Plymouth Argyle, and Bristol City, in the previous rounds.
Soccer Football – FA Cup – Fifth Round – Sheffield United v Bristol City – Bramall Lane, Sheffield, Britain – February 10, 2021 Sheffield United’s David McGoldrick in action with Bristol City’s Ryley Towler Action Images via Reuters/Molly Darlington
Round 3
Bristol Rovers 2-3 Sheffield United
Sheffield United broke their duck and record their first victory in 21 competitive matches (or 1,890 hours), after beating Bristol Rovers in the FA Cup.
Whether you consider the game in Bristol as showing a good performance or just getting a positive result, Chris Wilder’s side certainly did thus by winning 3-2 at Bristol Rovers. However, they were guilty of making heavy weather of it, despite taking an early lead in the third minute through keeper Joe Day’s unfortunate own goal from Lys Mousset’s header. They allowed Rovers to get back into the game when Kilgour headed home on 21 minutes after connecting with Westbrooke’s free-kick.
This game was put to bed in a frantic few second-half minutes that saw three goals scored in United’s favour. Oliver Burke had darted clear of the defence from John Fleck’s through ball to slot home on 59 minutes. Three minutes later Leahy’s near-post header from a free-kick saw Ehmer bundle home at the far post unchallenged. It seemed like all the hard work had been undone by a side two Divisions below them but within a minute the Blades were ahead again as David McGoldrick played in substitute Jayden Bogle who slotted home between the keepers’ legs.
Round 4
Sheffield United 2-1 Plymouth Argyle
With supporters not being able to attend matches the competition has perhaps lost its magic a little bit but that didn’t deter the Blades doing the business and securing a place in round five, where they will host Bristol City, after beating Plymouth Argyle 2-1. United had put themselves into a comfortable position after guiding themselves into a two-goal lead but gave themselves a nervy finish when they allowed the Pilgrims to pull one back.
United was denied a controversial penalty following an alleged handball in the box from Ethan Ampadu’s shot struck the raising hands of Kelland Watts. It looked a stone-walled penalty but after a VAR review, referee Lee Mason ruled out any appeals. The hosts did take the lead on 39 minutes when excellent play down the left saw Billy Sharp clip the ball onto the far post and his looping cross was headed home by Chris Basham.
The second half saw the Blades double their lead two minutes after the re-start after a ball through to Billy Sharp from Oli Norwood saw the skipper charge through the box, round keeper Michael Cooper and slot home in front of an empty Kop. Argyle pulled one back fifteen minutes from time after John Lundstram lost possession in front of his own box, and allowedByron Moore’s run to pull back to Panutche Camara who finished.
Round 5
Sheffield United 1-0 Bristol City
The Blades advanced in the FA Cup after beating Bristol City 1-0 at home under controversial circumstances.
For the second game in a row, VAR was involved to award a penalty. On 65 minutes, Billy Sharp’s square-ball evaded several defenders before being rolling loose to David McGoldrick, his powerful shot was stopped in front of goal by former Barnsley defender Alfie Mowson, John Lunstram then beat the keeper with the rebounded effort but Tomas Kalas had scampered back onto the goal-line to clear. Having checked VAR, referee Robert Jones ruled that Mowson had handballed. He was dished a red card and Sharp converted the penalty kick.
United had missed a golden opportunity earlier in the match as Jayden Bogle played in Max Lowe in the first half, he got himself into a comfortable position and his effort beat the keeper but bounced off the top of the crossbar. Bogle then headed straight at the keeper from Ethan Ampadu’s cross.
Round 6
Chelsea 2-0 Sheffield United
The Blades FA Cup dream ended at the Quart-Finals for the second consecutive season, having lost to Arsenal in 2020. Despite struggling in the league, United played good football at Stamford Bridge but was outdone by a quality Chelsea who went on to win the match 2-0, with a goal in each half.
The hosts had gone ahead on 24 minutes after Ben Chilwell’s cross was scrambled into their own goal from a defending Oliver Norwood. They wrapped things up within the dying embers of the game, as Hakim Ziyech stoppage-time strike was enough to kill off the game and ensure a semi-final place for the Londoners.