Sheffield United booked their place in the FA Cup semi-final after beating Championship side Charlton Athletic by two goals to nil and will face Hull City at Wembley in mid-April. Ryan Flynn and John Brayford struck second-half goals as Sky Bet League One side Sheffield United booked themselves a date at Wembley in the semi-finals of the FA Cup. Winger Flynn broke the deadlock in the 65th minute and right-back Brayford's deflected shot less than two minutes later ensured a deserved 2-0 victory for the resurgent Blades over Championship strugglers Charlton. Nigel Clough's side become the first team from the third tier to reach the last four of the competition since Wycombe in 2001 and extended their remarkable winning sequence to nine matches in all competitions. The Blades were spiralling towards relegation when former Derby boss Clough took over in November, but five months later the club are daring to believe a late run on the play-offs is on, as well as now securing their place in the FA Cup semi-finals for the first time in 11 years. United had swept aside Aston Villa, Fulham and Nottingham Forest in previous rounds and save for a competitive first period, a determined Charlton could do little to stem the red and white tide. Clough made seven changes to his starting line-up from the side that beat Peterborough in midweek.
Defenders Bob Harris, Brayford and Harry Maguire, midfielders Flynn, Jamie Murphy and Stefan Scougall, plus striker Conor Coady all returned. Charlton striker Marcus Tudgay, in for Astrit Ajdarevic, was Charlton's only change. The Blades started full of purpose, as expected after extending their winning streak on Tuesday night, and despite the changes looked anything but disjointed in the opening stages. But Charlton made clear their own intentions in front of a sold-out Bramall Lane crowd of 30,040 - swelled by 5,000 Addicks fans - as both sides ensured a helter-skelter start without creating clear chances. Tudgay's shot following Simon Church's lay-off was turned away by home goalkeeper Mark Howard and at the other end Blades defender Harris drove inches over the crossbar shortly before the break after Murphy had played the ball into his path. Blades' impressive centre-half Maguire turned sharply in the opposition's box to fire the first effort of the second half just wide and Coady was inches away from connecting with Flynn's fine through-ball. Charlton then spurned the best chance of the game up to that point
Tudgay did well to hook the ball back from the by-line, but Callum Harriott, who scored against Sheffield Wednesday in the previous round, dragged his shot wide from 10 yards. It proved a costly miss as the Blades struck twice in as many minutes to seize control of the tie. Flynn forced home the opening goal from six yards in the 65th minute with the sole of his right boot after Jose Baxter's curling cross from the left bounced into his path. And before the home fans could catch breath, Brayford's low drive from the edge of the area took a deflection to wrong-foot Charlton goalkeeper Ben Hamer and nestles in his bottom left-hand corner. Coady thought he had added a third with 13 minutes left after the ball rebounded back of the post, but his effort was ruled out for offside. Charlton substitute Reza Ghoochannejhad went close in the closing stages, but Blades keeper Howard turned away his shot in style to ensure a sixth consecutive clean sheet for the home side and their place in the last four of the cup.
In the league the Blades dropped one place to 11th at the weekend due to no action being played but a win tonight could push the S2 club into ninth position. However should there be a goal haul tonight and the Blades put five goals home in favour then they will hit the 7,000 league goals mark - however we expect United to meet this milestone at home to Wolves.
Following the return of Harry Maguire, John Brayford and Jamie Murphy Blades boss Nigel Clough has no major injury concerns to deal with, though Belgian midfielder Florent Cuvelier (ligaments) is sidelined for the remainder of the season.
Carlisle United currently lay 19th in the League One (at the time of writing) table and may head to Bramall Lane tonight in the bottom four should last night's results gone against them. They have won twice in the last six games with back to back victories over Bradford City (1-0) and at Coventry City (2-1). They also drew 0-0 at home to Brentford before being defeat by two goals to one at Port Vale last Saturday.
Blues boss Graham Kavanagh will be hoping Matty Robson (back) is ready to return to contention at Bramall Lane tonight. Defender Sean O'Hanlon is doubtful whilst Sam Byrne (on loan from Manchester United) could return to the starting eleven after recovering from a hamstring injury. Meanwhile former Glasgow Rangers striker Nacho Novo will be looking for his first start since joining from Spanish side Huesca in February.
They are expected however to field former Sheffield United midfielder Paul Thirlwell, whilst striker Danny Cadamateri who is also on their books will sit this one out. Thirlwell signed for United from Sunderland in a free transfer in July 2004 and made his debut in a 1-0 home defeat to Reading, scoring his first and only Blades goal in a 3-3 draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers. In August 2005 he transferred to Derby County having made 28 (+7) appearances and scored just once.
Veteran striker Danny Cadamarteri has been much travelled having served Everton, Fulham (loan), Bradford City and Leeds United before joining the Blades in September 2004 in a £50,000 fee under the leadership of Neil Warnock (he had an habit of collecting strikers). He made his debut in a 1-1 draw at Brighton & Hove Albion and later scored his only United goal in a 3-2 win at Crewe Alexandra. He was mostly a fridge player behind the formidable Andy Gray and Steve Kabba but managed to make 14 (+8) appearances before joining Bradford City in June 2005.
Blades-Mad Prediction: Sheffield United 2 Carlisle United 0