MX23RW : Saturday, February 18 21:17:14| >> :600:136030:136030:
[monks data]
Jan 25, 2020 at 3pm UK at The Den
Attendance: 12,653

0-2

FT(HT: 0-0)
Besic (62'), Norwood (84')

Blades earn hard-fought win at Millwall

Muhamed Besic and Oliver Norwood on target as Premier League team progress.

Mo Besic and Ollie Norwood provided two moments of rare class as Sheffield United ground out a 2-0 FA Cup win at Millwall.

Everton loanee Besic whipped home his first Blades goal on his 13th appearance, before Norwood wrapped up the fourth-round victory amid an insipid clash at The Den.

Aiden O’Brien scuffed a glorious early chance for Millwall and the hosts never recovered, with two clinical finishes sufficient to put Chris Wilder’s men in the hat for the fifth round draw.

South Bermondsey has played host to seven FA Cup giant-killings since 1993, with the Lions well versed in a Premier League mauling.

This throwback tie had all the hallmarks of another entry into those lengthy annals, save for any kind of killer blow from the hosts.

A threadbare pitch thanks to a faulty drainage system, floodlights on in broad daylight and the typically hostile atmosphere; all these and more left the Blades often lacking interest or impetus.

But boss Wilder’s in-form men coped comfortably enough in the event, as Millwall struggled for any bite in attack.

Chris Wilder
Chris Wilder’s side faced few alarms (Tim Goode/PA)

Besic stroked wide from 16 yards as the Blades eyed an early breakthrough but the visitors were reeling when the vastly-experienced Phil Jagielka was caught out wholly unnecessarily when misjudging a header.

The former Everton man raced out but missed the ball, leaving a gaping hole for O’Brien to race through, cut inside the cover – but scuff his shot straight at Bartosz Bialkowski.

Millwall almost slumped off the pace in response to a gilt-edged chance missed but such was the paucity of quality on display that United were unable to take advantage before the break.

Basham’s smart through-ball did at least have Billy Sharp shuffling around Bialkowski but the visiting skipper could not deliver a finish as James Brown hacked off the line.

Jagielka then headed high and wide after working himself free at a corner, but a distinctly underwhelming half ended scoreless.

Both sides at least upped the intensity after the break – and a surprise moment of accuracy broke the deadlock.

Callum Robinson’s lofted ball let Sharp apply the squeeze on the Lions, with the skipper finding Besic on the overlap.

Millwall v Sheffield United – FA Cup – Fourth Round – The Den
Muhamed Besic celebrates the opening goal (Kirsty O’Connor/PA)

The Bosnia midfielder checked inside, opened his body and delivered a textbook curling finish.

Norwood quickly slotted the match-sealing second after a fine tee-up from skipper Sharp, as Millwall slipped well off the pace at the end.

Simple, effective, decisive – two finishes boasting all the qualities missing both before and afterwards at The Den.

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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Burnley32219263273672
2Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd32187754302461
3Middlesbrough331761056381857
4Luton TownLuton32131183932750
5Sunderland321310947341349
6Millwall31147103932749
7Blackburn RoversBlackburn32154133437-349
8Watford32121193835347
9Norwich CityNorwich32137124336746
10West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom31129104033745
11Coventry CityCoventry32129113533245
12Swansea CitySwansea32119124547-242
13Hull City33119133847-942
14Preston North EndPreston32119122837-942
15Bristol City321011114241141
16Reading32125153547-1241
17Queens Park RangersQPR33109143446-1239
18Birmingham CityBirmingham32108143742-538
19Stoke CityStoke32107153639-337
20Cardiff CityCardiff3398162536-1135
21Rotherham UnitedRotherham32712133444-1033
22Huddersfield TownHuddersfield3287173043-1331
23Blackpool32710153247-1531
24Wigan AthleticWigan32710152950-2131

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