Tuesday, 5 February 1992
Having drawn the previous fixture 0-0 ten days previous the Blades and the Addicts were forced to replay at Bramall Lane with the winner hosting Chelsea. At Upton Park in its initial fixture United were poor in performance and surely no doubt would have been fired up by manager Dave Bassett for this replay - he certainly wouldn't have wished for a repeat performance which had seen the Blades leave London luckily to have not been on the end of a giant killing.
With Wednesday having fallen from grace, losing 2-1 at home to Middlesbrough in round four United remained Yorkshire's only representative, but even they weren't sure of a place in the next round. Again Charlton were poor in front of goal and wasn't until 83rd minute when Gatting scrammed a ball home that the visitors found a goal but at this point was nothing more than a scant consolation with the hosts having bagged three shots before half-time.
Charlton had lined up with the same eleven which had drawn previously with the Blades and included future familiar names Rob Lee, Scott Minto and Alan Pardew whilst Simon Webster, previously a Sheffield United player was included whilst Bassett replaced Colin Hill with Kevin Gage and Carl Bradshaw was favoured in place of Dane Whitehouse as the Blades made changes.
In fact United were ahead has early as the fifth minute, Tracey's long free-kick was cleverly flicked on by Bradshaw, leaving Deane who was questionably offside with the simple task of heading over keeper Bolder who had charged off his line for the opener. From then on United dominated the game and by the time ten minutes of the game had passed they had doubled their lead, Barnes crossing deep into the penalty area with Gayle rising highest to head home past Bolder.
As the game moved into first half injury time a third was added, putting the game beyond Athletic and setting up that elusive away tie at Chelsea. This time it was Hodges who turned provider; his corner was turned home at the far post following a knock on from Gayle.
Sheffield United: S Tracey; K Gage, D Barnes, J Gannon, B Gayle, P Beesley (sub: C Hill), C Bradshaw (sub: D Whitehouse), M Lake, I Bryson, B Deane, G Hodges.
Charlton Athletic: R Bolder; D Pitcher, A Barness, A Pardew, S Webster, S Gatting, R Lee (sub: P Gorman), J Bumstead (sub: S Minto), C Leaburn, G Nelson, C Walsh.
Referee: R Gifford