Bristol Rovers 2-3 Sheffield United: Blades claim first win of season to reach FA Cup fourth round

Jayden Bogle is Blades' matchwinner after dramatic second-half spell; Chris Wilder's side finally claim first win of season - and manager's 100th victory in charge of club ; FA Cup fourth and fifth round draws on Monday January 11

By PA Media

Saturday 9 January 2021 20:32, UK

Sheffield United secured their first win of the season as they reached the fourth round of the FA Cup with a 3-2 victory at Bristol Rovers.

Oliver Burke scored his first Blades goal since a September switch from West Brom and Jayden Bogle capped a dramatic spell with what proved the matchwinner, adding to an early Joe Day own goal as the Premier League's basement club led three times.

Rovers defenders Alfie Kilgour and Max Ehmer equalised from set-pieces for the Sky Bet League One hosts, but United held their nerve to finally win at the 19th attempt this season.

Blades boss Chris Wilder responded to growing speculation over his future by making only one change from the side beaten by Crystal Palace, although injury and Covid-19 had reduced his options.

Wilder named eight substitutes despite being allowed nine on the bench, but the visitors were out of the blocks fast and Day saved from Ben Osborn with Lys Mousset almost bundling in the rebound.

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The Frenchman then met Osborn's sixth-minute cross with a fine header and though Day got the faintest touch on to the
crossbar, he was helpless as the ball struck him on the back for the most unfortunate of own goals.

Rovers were level with their first serious attack after 21 minutes as Kilgour met Zain Westbrooke's free-kick with a towering header from 12 yards.

United felt they had restored their lead through David McGoldrick, but referee Keith Stroud adjudged that John Lundstram had not kept the ball in play.

Rovers survived a penalty appeal when Luke Leahy and Bogle tangled and Day, part of Newport's run to the fifth round two years ago, denied Lundstram from close range.

The ball was soon in the home net again when Mousset tucked away a rebound after Day pushed out John Egan's effort but Stroud came to Rovers' rescue again by insisting Egan had climbed over Leahy to win the header.

Burke replaced Mousset during the early stages of the second half and the Scotland international should have scored with his first touch, instead slicing horribly wide.

But he made amends for his earlier miss after 59 minutes, striding on to Oliver Norwood's measured pass as Rovers' complaints of a free-kick in their favour at the other end fell on deaf ears.

Rovers were level within three minutes as Jack Baldwin flicked on a corner to the far post where the unmarked Ehmer finished.

But parity lasted less than 60 seconds as Bogle started a move involving Burke and McGoldrick, and he maintained his run to stroke home his second Blades goal and ensure Wilder's men had the winning feeling at last.

What the managers said

Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder after winning his 100th game in charge of the Blades: "It's never ever been about me. It's always been about putting the football club first and the whole football club needed a win. We needed a win for the players and the football club, and we went as strong as we could.

"It's not a huge game for people outside our football club. But it's a big win for the run we've been in and we had to get a result for the players and the supporters. The players have taken a hit in confidence and belief, but we've got through
a tricky tie that a lot of people in the football world would have expected us to lose."

Bristol Rovers boss Paul Tisdale: "We had a good go at it and the players are disappointed because they felt they had an opportunity. I am disappointed because we had a chance to win and we didn't take it. Generally, we played really well - there was a lot of fight and we pushed them all the way."