By Deadbat
Sheffield United advanced into the FA Cup fourth round after seeing off Conference South Salisbury City 3-1 at a windy Bramall Lane.
United won in relative comfort even if the performance was professional rather than totally convincing. A first-half goal by Chris Porter was added to by a fortunate deflected effort that went off Ched Evans’s backside before an own goal from an Evans cross. Salisbury kept plugging away and got a consolation near the end from an impressive strike to give their excellent away following something to cheer.
The Blades fielded a strong lineup with the only change being Lee Williamson coming back in for Stephen Quinn, who was not in the match day squad of 18. Danny Wilson once again opted not to start with James Beattie, leaving him on the bench alongside Long, Montgomery, Cresswell, Williams, McAllister and youngster Chapell. The Salisbury manager, Darryl Clarke, decided to play himself, as the visitors looked to cause the shock of the third round.
After a minute’s applause for former Blades loanee Gary Ablett, the game began with United well on top and forcing City back. Ertl played in Evans who had a shot blocked and the then McDonald also had an effort that was scrambled clear. Evans almost scored when his fierce effort from inside the box was blocked by Porter. Maguire hit a long-range shot well over and it was all United, as they faced a decidedly defensive Salisbury formation.
Although United at times tried to get it forward too quickly and needed a touch more patience, they took the lead on 18 minutes. McDonald cleverly played in Williamson, who advanced before releasing Porter down the left-hand channel. The striker took a touch, steadied himself before drilling the ball through the legs of the advancing keeper and into the middle of the goal.
Salisbury then came out and had two efforts with a shot from Clarke into the midriff of Simonsen and then Reid shot well over the bar. United proceeded to dominate the first half, and would have gone in at the break with the game all but wrapped up, save for poor finishing.
After the interval, Williamson wasted one cross but then put another better delivery in but Porter’s effort was deflected wide. The second half was only six minutes old when Wilson opted to make a double change. Beattie and Cresswell came on for Porter and Flynn; Cresswell went wide left with Beattie partnering Evans up front.
A real scrappy spell of play ensued, as United struggled to get any fluency to their play and a few tackles started to fly in. City enjoyed more possession for a spell but did not really create much and United soon started to advance back up the field.
Webb was booked for a foul on Beattie, and on the hour United doubled their lead. Francois’s shot ricocheted around the area and came to McDonald, whose shot did not seem goalbound until it hit Evans, who inadvertently deflected the ball into the net. It was more than a touch fortunate but Evans duly celebrated continuing his scoring run.
Salisbury made a double change, with Losasso and Macklin on for Reid and Fitchett, but it was still mostly United, and Evans, Beattie and Doyle all had chances blocked in an almighty scramble. The third goal came when Evans collected the ball down the right-hand side, drove at the defenders and hit a low cross across the goal, which Webb succeeded in slicing into his own net. It was reminiscent of the own goals ‘scored’ by Evans at Bournemouth.
Ertl had a long-range effort and then Evans had a shot deflected wide as the non-league side really started to tire. United took off the disappointing Williamson replacing him with the young winger Chapell, who went into a position wide right. United continued to pour forward but some poor passing and final balls meant they could not add to the result.
Maguire continued to repel any attacks the visitors had but, to their credit, Salisbury kept going and out of the blue got a goal from a well-taken individual strike. United gave the ball away and Macklin made a yard of space from the edge of the box before hitting a low daisy-cutter beyond Simonsen’s right hand and into the corner. The away fans celebrated wildly as if they had scored the winner.
After four minutes of additional time - despite there barely being any stoppages in the second half - many United fans stayed in to warmly applaud the visitors’ players and supporters.
The Blades now face an intriguing home tie in the fourth round against either Birmingham or Wolves on 28 January.
The Blades fielded a strong lineup with the only change being Lee Williamson coming back in for Stephen Quinn, who was not in the match day squad of 18. Danny Wilson once again opted not to start with James Beattie, leaving him on the bench alongside Long, Montgomery, Cresswell, Williams, McAllister and youngster Chapell. The Salisbury manager, Darryl Clarke, decided to play himself, as the visitors looked to cause the shock of the third round.
After a minute’s applause for former Blades loanee Gary Ablett, the game began with United well on top and forcing City back. Ertl played in Evans who had a shot blocked and the then McDonald also had an effort that was scrambled clear. Evans almost scored when his fierce effort from inside the box was blocked by Porter. Maguire hit a long-range shot well over and it was all United, as they faced a decidedly defensive Salisbury formation.
Although United at times tried to get it forward too quickly and needed a touch more patience, they took the lead on 18 minutes. McDonald cleverly played in Williamson, who advanced before releasing Porter down the left-hand channel. The striker took a touch, steadied himself before drilling the ball through the legs of the advancing keeper and into the middle of the goal.
Salisbury then came out and had two efforts with a shot from Clarke into the midriff of Simonsen and then Reid shot well over the bar. United proceeded to dominate the first half, and would have gone in at the break with the game all but wrapped up, save for poor finishing.
After the interval, Williamson wasted one cross but then put another better delivery in but Porter’s effort was deflected wide. The second half was only six minutes old when Wilson opted to make a double change. Beattie and Cresswell came on for Porter and Flynn; Cresswell went wide left with Beattie partnering Evans up front.
A real scrappy spell of play ensued, as United struggled to get any fluency to their play and a few tackles started to fly in. City enjoyed more possession for a spell but did not really create much and United soon started to advance back up the field.
Webb was booked for a foul on Beattie, and on the hour United doubled their lead. Francois’s shot ricocheted around the area and came to McDonald, whose shot did not seem goalbound until it hit Evans, who inadvertently deflected the ball into the net. It was more than a touch fortunate but Evans duly celebrated continuing his scoring run.
Salisbury made a double change, with Losasso and Macklin on for Reid and Fitchett, but it was still mostly United, and Evans, Beattie and Doyle all had chances blocked in an almighty scramble. The third goal came when Evans collected the ball down the right-hand side, drove at the defenders and hit a low cross across the goal, which Webb succeeded in slicing into his own net. It was reminiscent of the own goals ‘scored’ by Evans at Bournemouth.
Ertl had a long-range effort and then Evans had a shot deflected wide as the non-league side really started to tire. United took off the disappointing Williamson replacing him with the young winger Chapell, who went into a position wide right. United continued to pour forward but some poor passing and final balls meant they could not add to the result.
Maguire continued to repel any attacks the visitors had but, to their credit, Salisbury kept going and out of the blue got a goal from a well-taken individual strike. United gave the ball away and Macklin made a yard of space from the edge of the box before hitting a low daisy-cutter beyond Simonsen’s right hand and into the corner. The away fans celebrated wildly as if they had scored the winner.
After four minutes of additional time - despite there barely being any stoppages in the second half - many United fans stayed in to warmly applaud the visitors’ players and supporters.
The Blades now face an intriguing home tie in the fourth round against either Birmingham or Wolves on 28 January.
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