Tomorrow, Sheffield United travel to Turf Moor to face fellow Premier League side Burnley in the Carabao Cup, better known as the Football League Cup. It may spark a long road to the final, or the fire might burn out early. Vital Blades gets in the time machine to recall a memorable time the Blades reached the semi-final of the League Cup, beating current Premier League champions Liverpool at home in the first leg at Bramall Lane.
It was 18 seasons ago, during the 2002-03 campaign. The Blades were competing in the Championship with supporters unaware that, that season, was going to be a memorable season for quite a few reasons.
It is commonly referred to as the ‘Triple Assault’ season to Blades supporters. United would reach the semi-final final of the League Cup, as well as same round in the FA Cup. In the league, they would finish third and after a gruelling season which compiled of 61 league and cup games in total, they reached the Play-Off Final, losing to Wolves 3-0 at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff.
Little would Neil Warnock and his team know that when they faced York City in the first round it would spark an unbelievable journey that would take them into the semi-final for the first time in the clubs’ history, and beat three Premier League sides along the way.
Loanee Jon-Paul McGovern netted the Blades only goal against the Minstermen, before goals from Michael Boulding, Nick Montgomery and a brace from Michael Brown saw off Wycombe Wanderers in a 4-1 win.
A big test to come came in Round 3 when top-flight Leeds rolled into Bramall Lane with a swagger with an XI of international players in their starting line-up. The dream looked set to be shattered when Steve Yates put through his net as the first half loomed. With 90 minutes creeping up, and the game still locked at 0-1, the Whites looked set to conquer this Yorkshire Derby. But my some minor miracle, through Phil Jagielka’s long-range effort, United drew level. Then, in stoppage time, a scramble in the box saw Peter Ndlovu prod the ball home to miraculously win the match.
Goals from Shaun Murphy and Wayne Allison easily put Sunderland aside in the next round. They were a Premier League but were struggling in a season which would end in relegation and proved no competition for a vibrant Blades side who played with lots of confidence.
United had benefitted from all of the ties being drawn at home, even so, when they were drawn against Crystal Palace in the Quart-Final. Despite that home advantage they almost came unstuck against the Eagles. United had taken the lead through Carl Asaba on 35 minutes but there was to be late drama when Robert Page put through his own net eight minutes from time to draw the match level and potentially force extra-time.
However, United had a ‘pint-sized striker’ at their disposal, and he proved that season to be a fantastic super-sub, Paul Peschisolido. The Canadian international forward netted twice, on 86 and 88 minutes to fire the Blades into a semi-final tie.
So, United had made it into the semi-finals for the first time in their history and was drawn against then six times winners of the League Cup, Liverpool. Blackburn Rovers and Manchester United were drawn in the other tie. The semi-finals were played over two games with the team with the highest overall aggregate score, would advance to the final at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.
Bramall Lane would host the first leg, before the return fixture being played at Anfield. The Lane holds memories for thousands of supporters, with those magical games which live long in the memory, and the game at home to Liverpool is just one of them. That cannot be said for the Blades supporter who dropped, and lost his ticket outside of the ground before the match and didn’t gain entry.
There wouldn’t have been many supporters who would believe that United could beat the might of Liverpool over two legs, one maybe, but two seemed like a bridge too far. But too few would have predicted that Neil Warnock’s side would travel to Merseyside in the lead after a barnstorming display saw them come from a goal down to rip the Reds apart and head to Anfield with a goal advantage.
Gerard Houllier’s side looked to be strolling into the final when youngster Neil Mellor headed them into the lead on 35 minutes, a goal which was richly deserved after they had wasted earlier chances in the game. On 12 minutes Mellor had prodded wide at the near post. Warnock made a tactical change at the break, introducing Nick Montgomery for Carl Asaba, to add extra metal in the midfield.
Though they almost doubled their lead on 65 minutes, when Danny Murphy’s corner was met by the head of Salif Diao and expertly saved by Paddy Kenny.
United upped the tempo and soon got into the rhythm of the game. Peter Ndlovu saw his effort blocked as the Blades edged closer. Then, on 76 minutes Stuart McCall won possession following a lapse in concentration from Stephane Henchox and Jamie Carragher, allowed the Scot to prod a pivotal pass into the path of Michael Tonge, whose low drive beat keeper Kirkland.
The Lane was bouncing, and soon the roof would be almost off 6 minutes later when Liverpool half-cleared a corner. The ball fell to Tonge on the edge of the box; he hesitated before firing low through a crowd and into the bottom left-hand corner, beyond Kirkland. The ground erupted as Tonge wheeled away in celebration.
The second leg would finish in a fairytale ending for United, though they had achieved so much already by getting to where they got but could lavish in the fact that they took the great Liverpool into extra-time.
It took Liverpool seven minutes to open up their account in the second leg, with The Guardian reporting on the goal; ‘A defensive error by Shaun Murphy allows Owen to shoot and bring a fine save out of Kenny. Heskey lays the rebound off to El Hadji Diouf, who drills it low and hard inside the left-hand post from the edge of the box.’
Chances were few and far between for United but failed to capitalise on the ones they were given. Wayne Allison headed over from close range before the Reds taking the lead.
Liverpool almost doubled their lead when Diouf’s miss-hit shot cannoned off the crossbar and, at the other end; Phil Jagielka went close with his header from a Wayne Quinn corner.
The game went into extra-time with the score locked at 2-2 (aggregate). It meant that, due to the away goals rule, United now had to score, otherwise they would be eliminated at the end of extra-time.
That scenario didn’t come into play as Michael Owen netted on 107 minutes when he was played through one-on-one and lifted the ball over Kenny and into the net.
The goal came as a devastating blow and put paid to any chances of reaching the final – but regardless of this defeat, the supporters of Sheffield United were given a team to be proud of.
8 January 2003 – First Leg
21 January 2003 – Second Leg
Round 1 – York City (h) W 1-0
Round 2 – Wycombe Wanderers (h) W 4-1
Round 3 – Leeds United (h) W 2-1
Round 4 – Sunderland (h) W 2-0
Round 5 – Crystal Palace (h) W 3-1
Semi-Final (1) – Liverpool (h) W 2-1
Semi-Final (2) – Liverpool (a) L 0-2
(lost 2-3 on aggregate)