An 88th minute Paul Peschisolido goal cruelly denied the Blues a place in the fifth round draw after Town had made a dramatic comeback from three goals down. The Blades had gone ahead through goals from Michael Brown (2) and Phil Jagielka before Thomas Gaardsøe, Tommy Miller with a penalty and Darren Bent had put Town back on terms.

The Blues lined-up unchanged from last week's game against Preston last with Darren Bent and Darren Ambrose once again starting on the bench.

It was clear from the early exchanges that the pitch was not going to help passing football. Passes went astray as the ball bobbled, picked up pace or simply stuck.

Sheffield United had the first chance of the game, a Michael Brown corner dropping deep to Phil Jagielka who hit a shot from a tight angle against the outside of the post. Marcus Bent hit Town's first effort, his shot deflecting wide of the post from the edge of the area.

But it took only 19 minutes for the Blades to go ahead, Town failing to close down Michael Brown on the edge of the area before the former Manchester City man hit a shot beyond the unsighted Andy Marshall. The Blues had probably had the best of the possession but United had looked the greater threat on goal.

Pablo Couñago hit a shot high and wide on 22 after being played in on the left of goal by Marcus Bent. Shortly afterwards the Blues switched to 4-4-2 with Matt Holland moving into the centre of midfield.

Couñago probably had Town's best opportunity of the half when he failed to get enough on a low Tommy Miller cross and sent the ball wide when well placed.

On the half hour Sheffield United added their second. A corner from right saw Tommy Mooney beat Gaardsøe in the air and send a header against the post. Phil Jagielka reacted quickest and sent a low shot into the Town net.

While Town had played particularly well, they hardly deserved to be two goals down. Three minutes later the Blades came close to a third when Steve Kabba hit a 25-yarder just wide.

There were calls for a Town penalty with ten minutes of the half remaining when Marcus Bent took the ball wide on the left of the Sheffield United box where he clashed with United keeper Wilko de Vogt. Referee Dermot Gallagher decided that the Dutchman had got the ball and gave the Blues a corner.

Two minutes later Hermann Hreidarsson hit an uncharacteristic 25-yard shot which went wide.

Dermot Gallagher became the main villain for Blues' supporters in the latter stages of the half, particularly when Sheffield United were given freekicks for a couple of obvious Michael Brown dives. With a minute left of the first period Thomas Gaardsøe went into the referee's book after a clash with Steve Kabba where the United man appeared to have committed the first foul.

Joe Royle switched Fabian Wilnis for Darren Ambrose at half-time, the youngster moving to the right wing with Matt Holland going back to centre-half and Chris Makin to right-back.

Michael Brown, sold to United by Joe Royle when he was manager of Manchester City, hit the first shot of the second half, however he failed to really test Andy Marshall.

Ten minutes into the half Joe Royle took off Jim Magilton and brought on Darren Bent who moved to right midfield. Not long after Marcus Bent went close to a goal, his shot flashing across the face of the Sheffield United goal.

Darren Bent made a quick impact on the game, making a strong run down the right from the halfway line. Bent powered into the box, past Robert Page before laying on a pass to Darren Ambrose who ought to have done better than his shot well over the bar.

A minute later Marcus Bent and Tommy Miller combined well to set up Ambrose but again the youngster sent the ball over the top of de Vogt's goal.

Town were getting close to a goal, but on 62 the Blades went even further ahead. Tommy Miller had received a yellow card for a foul on Michael Brown and the freekick had been cleared to around the thirty-yard mark. Brown, the scorer of the first goal, reacted quickly and sent an unstoppable volley beyond Andy Marshall and into the net.

That looked to be that for the game, but very swiftly Town stuck back. Darren Ambrose sent in a corner from the Town right, the ball fell to Hermann Hreidarsson who tried to find space before teeing up Thomas Gaardsøe who made no mistake from the edge of the area.

The Blues now appeared to have new impetus and only six minutes later they had a second goal. Tommy Miller ran on to a ball from Pablo Couñago but was dispossessed by a combination of Phil Jagielka and Stuart McCall. The Blades pair got in one another's way and Miller got back on the ball and prepared to hit a shot goalwards until he was felled by Jagielka. Miller himself stepped up and made no mistake.

Town were now in the hunt for an equaliser which had looked well out of reach only a few minutes earlier. And the third wasn't long in coming, Darren Ambrose playing a ball forward for Darren Bent to run on to. The striker took the ball into the area, turned inside Page who went to ground as he challenged, before Bent sent a shot past de Vogt and into the net.

The Blues now looked the more likely to win the game and on 83 Darren Ambrose almost grabbed the all-important fourth goal. United keeper de Vogt headed the ball from just outside his area to the centre circle where Ambrose broke between two players and sent a volley over everyone towards goal. Just as the ball appeared to be about to cross the line, de Vogt managed to throw himself across goal to push it wide.

Town's last decent opportunity was halted in its tracks by the referee. Tommy Miller played a fine ball down the right to Darren Bent who was in the clear when Dermot Gallagher's whistle blew for a late tackle on Miller on the edge of the Town half. To add insult to injury Gallagher made the Blues take the freekick three times before he was happy with where it was taken.

Just as it was looking as if Neil Warnock's men would be making their way to Portman Road a week next Tuesday, the Blades snatched a winner. Over came a long throw from the United left, beyond, a number of Town defenders. It fell at the feet of unmarked sub Paul Peschisolido who, not believing his luck, beat Andy Marshall from the edge of the six-yard box.

Shortly afterwards the whistle went for the final time. A fine comeback from the Blues, however the marking on the final goal left a lot to be desired. The game was the clichéd pulsating cup-tie and in truth either side could have won. Town can take a great deal from the second half comeback ahead of the more important league match in two weeks.

Town: Marshall, Wilnis (Ambrose 46), Hreidarsson, Gaardsøe, Holland, Makin, Magilton (D Bent 55), Wright, Miller, Couñago, M Bent.

Photo: Action Images

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