Sheffield United cruised past giant-killers Morecambe to book their place in the Carling Cup fourth round.
Morecambe run ends at Bramall Lane
Sheffield United cruised past giant-killers Morecambe to book their place in the Carling Cup fourth round.
Billy Sharp and Luton Shelton both bagged a brace as the Blades dominated with former Aston Villa midfielder Lee Hendrie adding to the rout on his return from injury.
Former Manchester United team-mates Bryan Robson and Sammy McIlroy went head-to-head as Morecambe chased their third Championship scalp, having already seen off the challenges of Wolves and Preston.
Breakthrough
The breakthrough did not take long and came in the 18th minute along with the game's first shot on goal. Shelton demonstrated excellent close control in guiding the ball through a trio of Morecambe players on the edge of the box before nudging to his left and finding Sharp, who rattled home left-footed into the roof of the net.
Blades goalkeeper Paddy Kenny had to be on his guard for a curling free-kick from Carl Baker, but was barely troubled in tipping around the post, as Morecambe attempted to regain a hold on the tie.
But with Sharp in bullish mood, it was always going to be a tall order and the marksman struck his second 10 minutes before the break.
Derek Geary provided the lofted ball from the right flank which Sharp took on the bounce, before shuffling around his marker and banging in off the crossbar with a solid drive.
Optimism
After a unproductive first-half, Morecambe began the second period with renewed optimism and quickly set about finding a way to slice through a sturdy Blades defence.
But any early signs of a shock comeback were dashed after just five minutes of the restart, with United's third. Stephen Quinn planted a direct ball through the centre which caught everyone off guard except the unmarked Shelton who took the ball around Joe Lewis and slotted home with style.
Shelton in particular remained ever-dangerous and he saw two long-range efforts turned away by goalkeeper Lewis in quick succession.
Hendrie, back in the side for the first time since receiving knee surgery, should have made it four in the 65th minute after Lewis denied Sharp his hat-trick, but the midfield man blasted over from the edge of the box.
Floodgates
But he soon made amends when he was gifted the ball from eight yards out and took time in picking his spot before nailing the ball into the bottom right-corner.
The floodgates opened as Morecambe heads dropped and Shelton netted his second of the evening in the 74th minute. The Jamaican easily turned his man on the edge of the penalty box and had ample time to pick his corner and place a sweet, curling effort past Lewis.
The Shrimps battled until the end, but Blinkhorn's low effort six minutes from time was the closest they ever came to penetrating.
