Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder will be looking for the clubs’ third victory in four games when they host League One side, Plymouth Argyle, this weekend in the fourth round of the FA Cup.
The winner from this tie will face the winner from the fourth round tie between the two Championship clubs Millwall and Bristol City. United had defeated Bristol Rovers in an epic five-goal thriller in round three, which proved to be the clubs’ first victory of the season in all completive competitions. 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.
Sheffield United followed up that victory at the Memorial Ground with their first Premier League win of the campaign at home to Newcastle. Against a defensive, ‘park the bus’ Toon Army, Billy Sharp’s penalty on 73 minutes. That victory was followed up with a defeat at home to Tottenham last Sunday. Jose Mourinho’s side won their first game at Bramall Lane.
Having won 3-1 against Spurs last season (at Bramall Lane), the North London club turned the table by recording a victory with the exact score-line. It took the visitors five minutes to open up their account for the day. Serge Aurier was first to react to head home following Son Heung-Min’s corner and, on 40 minutes, after stealing possession off Oli Norwood in the middle Harry Kane stole away and from the edge of the area fired home his twelfth goal of the season.
At two goals down, the Blades responded in the second half when David McGoldrick headed home John Fleck’s cross on 59 minutes, scoring his sixth goal for United this season. It looked a promising start and a comeback may have been on the cards but Hotspur retaliated three minutes later through Tanguay Ndombele, either spectacularly struck or by sheer luck, he somehow acrobatically lobbed the ball over keeper Aaron Ramsdale, which proved to be the winner.
Blades boss Chris Wilder may tinker with the starting eleven. He was hoping to have had forgotten defender Jack Rodwell available for the trip to Bristol Rovers but missed out due to injury, however, Wilder is hoping that the experienced player, who has represented Manchester City, Everton and Sunderland in the Premier League as well as making international caps for England, will be in the squad to host Plymouth tomorrow.
FA Cup Round 4 Draw
Cheltenham Town v Manchester City
Bournemouth v Crawley Town
Swansea City v Nottingham Forest
Manchester United v Liverpool
Southampton/Shrewsbury Town
Barnsley v Norwich
Chorley v Wolves
Millwall v Bristol City
Brighton v Blackpool
Wycombe v Tottenham
Fulham v Burnley
Sheffield United v Plymouth
Chelsea v Luton
West Ham United v Doncaster
Brentford v Leicester
Everton v Sheffield Wednesday
Past FA Cup Results… vs. Plymouth Argyle
2014/15 – Round 2 – Bramall Lane (W 3-0)
Last Time
Sheffield United 3-0 Plymouth Argyle – 07.12.2014– FA Cup Round 2
Forthcoming Blades Fixtures;
*All fixtures are subject to change
27 Jan – Manchester United (a) – 20:15
30 Jan – Manchester City (a) – 15:00
02 Feb – West Bromwich Albion (h) – 19:45
06 Feb – Chelsea (h) – 15:00
13 Feb – West Ham United (a) – 15:00
20 Feb – Fulham (a) – 15:00
27 Feb – Liverpool (h) – 15:00
06 Mar – Southampton (h) – 15:00
13 Mar – Leicester City (a) – 15:00
20 Mar– Aston Villa (h) – 15:00
03 Apr – Leeds United (a) – 15:00
10 Apr – Arsenal (h) – 15:00
17 Apr – Wolverhampton Wanderers (a) – 15:00
24 Apr – Brighton & Hove Albion (h) – 15:00
01 May – Tottenham Hotspur (a) – 15:00
08 May – Crystal Palace (h) – 15:00
11 May – Everton (a) – 19:45
15 May – Newcastle United (a) – 15:00
23 May – Burnley (h) – 16:00