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 ....
9. Louie Marsh 5
The scorer last time out and will have been desperate to impress again but didn't have the easiest ride against a physical Barnsley side who gave him no time to settle on the ball and got into him from early on Photo: Simon Bellis
10. Owen Hampson 5
Showed some promising signs including a good early run to test the Barnsley defence but looked a bit off the pace after that, and was replaced just after the hour mark. One misplaced pass, when he looked to find his man on the overlap and overhit it out of play, rather summed up his evening | Sportimage
11. Rhian Brewster 5
The wait for a goal goes on for the striker, handed the captain’s armband with so many fellow senior players out. He almost got on the scoresheet but was stretching for Rak-Sakyi’s cross and could only hit the post with his effort. Linked play nicely at times before making way Photo: George Wood
12. Notable subs: Andre Brooks 6
Came on for Rak-Sakyi down the right and immediately looked a threat with his pace as he went on the outside of his man and looked to pick the cross, although he took a painful-looking late whack after another dangerous run | Sportimage