Sheffield United’s League Cup run is over for another year after the Blades tumbled out of the competition following defeat at their local rivals Barnsley tonight. The Blades made changes for the second round in succession and looked disjoined as a result.
Max Watters turned home the only goal of the game from close range while Sydie Peck hit the post for United, after Rhian Brewster had done likewise in the first half, before the former Arsenal youngster fired narrowly wide in injury time.
Here’s how we rated the Blades’ players at Oakwell as United bade farewell to this competition for another season ....
5. Sam McCallum 5
A mixed bag for the former Norwich man who did superbly to snuff out a first-half chance from a dangerous low cross and looked tidy on the ball, but seemed to tire in the second half and was caught out for Barnsley’s opener | Sportimage
6. Sydie Peck 6
So impressive last time out against Wrexham and anchored midfield again, seeing plenty of the ball at his feet and always making himself available and demanding possession. He and Coulibaly aggrivated Wilder by running into trouble but he got forward when he could as well and snapped into tackles. He had a late chance to get United back into it when his shot from long-range bounced off the post and hit 'keeper Slonina before bouncing to safety Photo: Andrew Yates
7. Ismaila Coulibaly 5
I thought he was poor against Wrexham and he at least improved on that showing, with some decent touches and composure under pressure when deep. But there were some less impressive moments too when he drifted for long periods of the game without getting involved | Sportimage
8. Jesurun Rak-Sakyi 6.5
Made his full debut for the Blades and showed glimpses of what he will bring, cutting in from the right and looking to test the goalkeeper. A great bit of football on the byline saw him ghost past his man and cross for Brewster to hit the post, before he curled just over at the start of the second half. Still getting up to speed but good signs so far | Sportimage