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Sheffield United 0 Birmingham 4: Match Report
FA CUP 4th Round SHeffield United vs Birmingham City This Utd Shot hits the post
DANNY Wilson is a hopeless footballing romantic, determined to chase every piece of silverware on offer no matter what the dangers or odds.
But Birmingham City’s brutal finishing ended the Sheffield United manager’s love affair with FA Cup competition - for another year at least - and condemned his team to its heaviest defeat of the season.
Chris Hughton’s side arrived at Bramall Lane in form and, having beaten neighbours Wolverhampton Wanderers en route to South Yorkshire, most definitely in the mood.
They departed clutching a ticket in the fifth-round draw too having made a mockery of claims this tie was an upset in the making.
Indeed, such was the ferocity of the visitors’ attacking play, Wilson felt compelled to admire not only the technique but also the timing of their goals.
“Their sharpness going forward was the difference,” he said. “When City got a chance they invariably took it whereas we didn’t.
“But they also scored at crucial times in the match. They scored in periods of the game when we were in the ascendancy and looked as if we were coming back.
“Sometimes you’ve just got to take it on the chin and take your hat off to your opponents.
“I don’t think that was a 4-0 contest. I don’t think that tells the entire story of what went on out there.
“But, equally, we can have no complaints about the fact that City won because they deserved to go through.”
Wilson, writing in his programme notes, described Saturday’s match as a “barometer” of United’s progress in recent weeks.
The final scoreline did not reflect their contribution to an intriguing tie but City’s incisiveness, speed of thought and movement served to remind there is still a considerable gulf in quality between the upper echelons of the Championship and League One.
Scotland international Chris Burke gave United defender Lecsinel Jean-Francois a torrid time along the flanks while Wade Elliott embellished a commanding performance by claiming City’s third after Nathan Redmond had also netted and Adam Rooney converted the first of an impressive brace.
Kevin McDonald, again oozing calm and composure in midfield, impressed for United with Lee Williamson and Matthew Lowton, who struck a post early in the second half, also catching the eye.
“I couldn’t say beforehand put I’ll say it publicly now,” Wilson admitted. “I didn’t want Birmingham City. I’d have rather got Wolves.
“I don’t mean that in a disrespectful way at all but they would have made nine or 10 changes whereas I knew Chris wouldn’t.
“We’ve effectively played his strongest 11 out there.
“But my lads can still take a lot from that game. There are positives there for them without a shadow of a doubt.
“Okay, we’re disappointed to go out. I make no bones about that.
“But performance wise I thought they did ever so well against top-quality opposition.
“They worked Birmingham hard and showed they are a quality team capable of playing some good stuff themselves.”
United started both halves brightly with Lowton and Ched Evans nearly fashioning an early strike when the latter’s decision to step over a low cross came with a whisker of releasing Stephen Quinn.
Evans also tested City’s Colin Doyle with two long-range efforts but a well-worked corner from Jordon Mutch had seen Redmond break the deadlock in between.
Rooney powered the ball into the roof of Steve Simonsen’s net during the closing stages of the first period but United’s spirited resistance meant it was not until the second that things swung decisively in City’s favour.
Williamson forced a fine save from Doyle as United appeared set to reduce the deficit with Lowton hitting the woodwork during the melee which followed and Rich-
ard Cresswell diverting inches wide from another set-piece.
But City strangled their hopes of a comeback when Elliott pounced following an excellent
interchange with Burke and David Murphy created Rooney’s second.
“I was delighted with the clean sheet, the overall display and the goals,” Hughton said. “That was a real team effort and it had to be.
“We had to weather some heavy pressure in certain periods of the game but I thought that once we found our rhythm we were strong and did ever so well.”
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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Comments
There are 34 comments to this article
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KEEP THE FAITH BLADES
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 12:48 AMpost 32...Dont talk rubbish Geri, you were up to 2nd place a few times and as usual SWFIUA
KEEP THE FAITH BLADES
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 12:46 AMPOST 26 UTP Care to chat about the pig team who lost 14-0 at Allfreton, you know the one that the pigs denied ever happened, and even took it off the website.... Anyways lets stop the attendance nonsense and talk about shots on goal...You just played a 90 minute match tonight and got the same amount of shots on goal as The Blades and we didnt even play...YOU ARE MASSIVE
Gerimo
Monday, January 30, 2012 at 10:43 PMWe were on the brink last season & fighting relegation,hardly surprising the crowds were down,plus a lot of fans were protesting about the board.You were supposed to be favourites to go straight back up & doing reasonably well but you still can't compete with us.
UTO
Monday, January 30, 2012 at 10:41 PMFair do's Silver. I agree it is a crime, both over spent trying for the big time and are paying for it now. Although I think we're now in a better position than you. It's OK to rant, that's partly why we come on here LOL. I'm off now. good night.
silverblade
Monday, January 30, 2012 at 10:00 PMevening uto, maybe but like iv'e said before, were inthe pub league and the gates arn't really that bad to say money is tight at this momment, anywaywe both talk our clubs up only natural but end of the day for a city like Sheffield both in this league it's a crime the way they have been run, end of rant...:-)..
UTO
Monday, January 30, 2012 at 09:51 PMDon't get the face on because you predicted a win for you and a loss for us. You can concentrate on the "Pub league" now LOL
UTO
Monday, January 30, 2012 at 09:39 PMEvening Silver, good post @ 23 BTW LOL. Put the dummy back in mate, I keep posting about your gates because it's ALL you lot went on about last season. I think you'll find for the Hammers game there weren't 4,000 away fans :-) thought you were massive??
silverblade
Monday, January 30, 2012 at 09:20 PMIf you insist on going on about crowds could you please enlighten me on what your average crowd was last season your first one down following relegation, also in the last round of the cup against the hammers,seems there were plenty 15,000 gates there hmmm.
UTO
Monday, January 30, 2012 at 07:19 PM14,000 pigs found their way to the stain to watch what you all predicted was going to be a win!! And it was ONLY £15 to get in. MancBlunt @ 2 but you weren't playing "Expansive football" when the Gunners kids took apart a full strength blunt team. Not many teams play a full strength team and get beat by reserves but if you want to sugar coat it and say it's "Expansive football" cool...... At least you can now concentrate on the "Pub league" LOL.
skillshouse01
Monday, January 30, 2012 at 05:03 PMLooks like the Malta Cup is back on the agenda
doggtheveryspecialdeputy
Monday, January 30, 2012 at 01:09 PMIs that Bramall Lane? It looks like alcatraz.
silverblade
Monday, January 30, 2012 at 12:52 PMThe thing is we came down from the championship lst season because we were not good enough, when wednesday came down the season before did they go straight back up? no ....other clubs before had the same problem ajusting to the pub league wer'e in, i think only Norwich went straight back up first time, the Birmingham game shows how far we have fallen behind....
Gerimo
Monday, January 30, 2012 at 12:17 PMSaw Wilson eyeing up the cutlery in the restaurant.
doggtheveryspecialdeputy
Monday, January 30, 2012 at 12:16 PM*d*
doggtheveryspecialdeputy
Monday, January 30, 2012 at 12:16 PMoohh hanbags
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