Sheffield United 2-1 Plymouth Argyle: Chris Basham and Billy Sharp goals take Blades into FA Cup round five

Premier League strugglers Sheffield United gained only their third win of the season as they beat Plymouth Argyle in their FA Cup fourth-round tie.

The Blades, bottom of the Premier League, went ahead when Chris Basham headed in from Billy Sharp's cross.

Sharp added a second, scoring after going around goalkeeper Michael Cooper.

Panutche Camara, who missed a good chance in the first half, pulled one back with a low strike, but the Blades held on to move into the fifth round.

Sheffield United play at home to Championship side Bristol City in the fifth round after the Robins defeated Millwall.

The Blades failed to win in any of their opening 18 matches in all competitions in 2020-21 before knocking out League One side Bristol Rovers 3-2 in the third round of the cup and a 1-0 league victory over Newcastle.

Club record signing Rhian Brewster, still looking for his first Blades goal since a £23m move from Liverpool in October, had two early chances against the Pilgrims but headed wide from 12 yards out and then had a 25-yard strike saved by Cooper.

League One side Plymouth, who eliminated Championship Huddersfield Town in the third round, should have opened the scoring but, following a fine passing move, Camara shot wide when unmarked 12 yards out.

The hosts were then unlucky not to have a penalty as Ethan Ampadu's shot was blocked by the arms of Plymouth defender Kelland Watts, with the incident going to the video assistant referee.

Chris Basham's goal was his first for Sheffield United since scoring in a 1-0 away win over Leeds United in the Championship on 16 March, 2019

But the Blades went ahead in the 39th minute as Sharp's cross was powerfully met by a Basham header, before Sharp scored himself soon after the restart.

Camara set up a thrilling finish when he scored following substitute Byron Moore's pull-back. Plymouth's Ben Reeves had a chance to force extra time but shot just wide as the Premier League team gained the victory.

'We've done everyone proud' - what they said

Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder: "They had to chuck everything at us and we're disappointed with the manner of their goal. We had to have an attitude about us and we had that, it wasn't as comfortable as it should have been but we saw it out.

"It's the end bit again that has cost us. I've been involved in this cup many times as a player and a manager and these are not straightforward ties.

"They would have sniffed a result here but the attitude and play was good. We just didn't go from 2-0 to 3-0 which would have seen it out.

"Indecision in a poor area, we've got to cut that out. It doesn't matter what level you play at, you'll get punished."

Plymouth Argyle boss Ryan Lowe: "We ran them close. To come here and go toe-to-toe with them and showcase what we've got, we did that.

"We missed a great chance in the first half, he's [Camara] been scoring them of late, but you can't fault them. There's no shame losing 2-1 at Bramall Lane.

"Our main priority is the league. If there was another five minutes, who knows, but we've done everyone proud."

Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text

Line-ups

Sheff Utd

Formation 3-5-2

1Ramsdale
6Basham
12Egan
22Ampadu
20BogleSubstituted forBaldockat 71'minutes
7Lundstram
16NorwoodBooked at 68minsSubstituted forBryanat 72'minutes
4Fleck
3Stevens
24BrewsterSubstituted forMcGoldrickat 79'minutes
10SharpSubstituted forBurkeat 79'minutes

Substitutes

2Baldock
13Lowe
14Burke
15Jagielka
17McGoldrick
18Foderingham
26Rodwell
29Bryan
34Ndiaye

Plymouth

Formation 3-5-2

1Cooper
4Aimson
24Opoku
2WattsBooked at 90mins
8Edwards
28Pereira CamaráSubstituted forNoubleat 88'minutes
18FornahSubstituted forReevesat 59'minutes
10Mayor
15Grant
31JephcottSubstituted forMooreat 64'minutes
9HardieSubstituted forTelfordat 64'minutes

Substitutes

5Wootton
7Nouble
11Telford
14Reeves
17Moore
23McCormick
27Law
37Pursall
38Mitchell

Referee:: Lee Mason

Match Stats

Home TeamSheff UtdAway TeamPlymouth

Possession: Home57%; Away43%

Shots: Home16; Away7

Shots on Target: Home6; Away2

Corners: Home5; Away2

Fouls: Home14; Away4

Live Text

Post update
Match ends, Sheffield United 2, Plymouth Argyle 1.
90'+5'
Full Time
Second Half ends, Sheffield United 2, Plymouth Argyle 1.

90'+4'
Post update
Foul by George Baldock (Sheffield United).
90'+4'
Post update
Jerome Opoku (Plymouth Argyle) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90'+3'
Booking
Kelland Watts (Plymouth Argyle) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
90'+3'
Post update
Oliver Burke (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
90'+3'
Post update
Foul by Kelland Watts (Plymouth Argyle).
90'+2'
Post update
Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Michael Cooper.
90'+2'
Post update
Attempt saved. Oliver Burke (Sheffield United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by David McGoldrick with a headed pass.
90'+1'
Post update
Attempt missed. Byron Moore (Plymouth Argyle) right footed shot from the right side of the box is high and wide to the right following a set piece situation.
90'
Post update
Foul by Chris Basham (Sheffield United).
90'
Post update
Frank Nouble (Plymouth Argyle) wins a free kick on the left wing.
88'
Substitution
Substitution, Plymouth Argyle. Frank Nouble replaces Panutche Camará.
87'
Post update
Foul by Oliver Burke (Sheffield United).
87'
Post update
Will Aimson (Plymouth Argyle) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
84'
Post update
Foul by John Egan (Sheffield United).
84'
Post update
Dominic Telford (Plymouth Argyle) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
82'
Post update
Foul by John Lundstram (Sheffield United).
82'
Post update
Danny Mayor (Plymouth Argyle) wins a free kick on the left wing.
82'
Post update
Foul by Ethan Ampadu (Sheffield United).

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Comments

Join the conversation

31 comments

Glad for Chris Wilder he is one of footballs good guys !
It appears, after about 25 games of the season, that Sheffield United have finally found their level. That level is evidently scrapping past bottom half League One teams like Bristol Rovers and Plymouth
Brilliant win for the blades. Any win this season is brilliant. Handball wasnt give as VAR said it was in the Snot Zone. The bit of the arm that the player wipes his nose on. :) Ridiculous decision.
Brewster is looking a really bad buy
The next round could be tricky as Bristol City had a good 3-0 win away at Millwall.
kennycanuck replied:
Quite right. Bristol City looked V.G.
Blades will need to be sharp.
Sorry, couldn't resist.
utd have had there 2 years of fame and there supporters have hardly seen a game live ,what a shame . least you can have your cup final next season ,bet all shops be rubbing there hands how many bangers and rockets they sell to the shoreham little boys army for you to chuck
Just managed it. Made a poor team look. A bit more game management and brain power would have saved a nervous last 15 minutes. Lee Mason usual standard. Awful blatant penalty not given. VAR waste of time.
Wibble replied:
You can't say that Lee Mason is inconsistent. He gets at least one obvious penalty decision wrong every game.
Well played Argyle - stuck to your guns and kept passing throughout. Good luck to both PAFC and SUFCfor the rest of the most unusual of seasons
As a Blade, a win is a win.....

...but I'm worried that once Argyle scored we looked shaky again. That on top of Brewster mis-firing again (& outshone by veteran Sharp) & Ramsdale showing his lack of shot stopping ability, isn't something to inspire confidence.

But a win is a win & for 70 minutes we actually played some good football.
Green and white barmy army.
Another shambolic performance from Ramsdale beaten under is body again
When are we going to learn he is not a goalkeeper at this level
Full credit to Plymouth they came to play. Fo large parts of the game they just couldn't gain possession. Plymouths goal came as a result of a series of unforced errors from the Blades. Really impressed with the Plymouth keeper who looked confident. It seems that Ramsdale is so low in confidence that he is a liability.
No mention in this article about the most blatant handball you could ever see.
It wasn't given which beggars belief.
Magpie86 replied:
I’ve seen much more blatant. If it didn’t hit his hand it was hitting him full in the face. Think that probably swayed the decision, whether in the rules or not. A good common sense decision I felt.
Poor performance by the underdogs. They progress nevertheless.
Argyle fan here. United deserved the victory today and well done to them. But I am proud at how well Argyle pushed them, especially in the last 20 mins.

However, if I was a Sheffield United fan I would be very worried. They looked like they lacked any real quality right across the pitch, especially up front.

And whoever sanctioned spending £23m for Brewster must have a hard look at themselves.
Mr Magoo replied:
Been a long wait for a HYS for Argyle shame Camara missed, earlier, a similar chance to the one he scored though I think the Keeper should have saved it
If Brewster can’t score against Argyle who have one if the worst defences in L1 will he ever score
Rainfordian replied:
Liverpool looking to resign him for £30m ;-)))))
Makes you think SheffU could be a good bet for promotion from League One season after next
donnybornscouser replied:
Hilarious Eddy. Go audition for stand up comedy

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Sheffield United 2-1 Plymouth Argyle: Chris Basham and Billy Sharp goals take Blades into FA Cup round five

'We've done everyone proud' - what they said