John Egan’s injury-time strike rescued Sheffield United a Fourth Round replay following a 3-3 draw at Wrexham in 2022-23 FA Cup.
Egan lashed in an injury-time equaliser from a corner kick to rescue Sheffield Utd a dramatic 3-3 draw and a home replay against the Non League club.
Oli McBurnie had put Sheffield Utd ahead after 74 seconds with a bullet-header from an early set piece but goals from James Jones and Thomas O’Connor put the Welsh club ahead after 61 minutes.
Oliver Norwood pulled the Blades level with a 65th minute strike but Utd’s Daniel Jebbison was red carded in the 71st minute for an off-the-ball incident.
Wrexham seemingly won the match with Paul Mullin’s 86th minute strike from substitute Sam Dalby’s return pass but Egan’s injury-time goal means that the tie goes to a replay at Bramall Lane.
Having seen off two previous giant killers in Blyth Spartans plus Oldham, fellow Non-League club, Farnborough, and defeated Coventry City en-route to this stage, Wrexham began this home tie in buoyant spirits.
Those high spirits however was dampened just 74 seconds into the match as McBurnie headed in from an early corner to put Sheffield Utd ahead.
Wrexham were then dealt further blows in the opening ten minutes as Jordan Tunnicliffe and Aaron Hayden were forced off through injury, with Max Cleworth and James Jones brought on in their places respectively.
Referee, Dean Whitestone proceeded to rub salt further into Wrexham’s wounds as he denied them a 11th minute penalty, after Mullin had been fouled by Utd’s Adam Davies as he chased down Anthony Forde’s long ball into the box.
Up the other end, Daniel Jebbison almost found a second goal for the visitors in the 18th minute but his shot was saved by Mark Howard.
Four minutes later, Howard again denied Jebbison as he punched away a low shot from the 19 year-old striker.
Whitestone meanwhile remained firm in denying Wrexham a penalty as Elliot Lee found himself fouled just inside the box, yet Wrexham’s penalty appeals again fell on deaf ears as they continued to improve after their early setbacks.
Sheffield Utd meanwhile lacked the final touch to claim a second goal before half-time but defended resolutely to protect their narrow lead at the break, albeit aided by Davies’ two vital saves to deny Mullin in the 38th minute and fifth minute of injury-time respectively.
Paul Heckingbottom consequently decided to substitute McAtee for Max Lowe in an attempt to shore up the Blades’ defence, which looked unsuccessful as Luke Young saw a 49th minute shot saved.
Young’s attempt though proved a warning which was unheeded as Ben Tozer one minute later unleashed a long throw-in, which found O’Connor who hooked across for Jones to flick in on-the-turn to pull the Non League hosts level.
Lee then volleyed wide a 54th minute throw-in by Tozer wide as Utd continuously failed to heed Wrexham’s attacking threats seriously.
Wrexham eventually punished United’s defence once again in the 61st minute as Tozer curled in a shot which was deflected wide of the bottom-left corner, which led O’Connor to smash in after he pounced upon a deflection by Billy Sharp.
Heckingbottom’s Blades consequently were sparked back into life which paid off as Norwood pounced upon a poor clearance of Sharp’s pass but saw his first shot blocked, only to rifle across into bottom-right corner at his second attempt to restore parity.
Utd though were reduced to ten men after 70 minutes as Whitestone red carded Jebbison for an off-the-ball retaliation towards Ben Tozer, who had initiated contact with the striker.
Wrexham then proceeded to chase a winner with their extra-man advantage as O’Connor headed over from Tozer’s 78th minute throw-in.
Ollie Palmer then smashed a 81st minute shot onto the top-right corner of the bar from close range, as the Red Dragons fought to spring their biggest giant killing yet this season and keep their Fifth Round dreams alive.
Those dreams soon became reality five minutes later as Mullin played an one-two move with Dalby on the right, as he sprinted up the central third to calmly rifle in the return pass beyond Davies’ reach.
Sheffield Utd though dug deep despite being down to ten men and Egan stepped up in the fifth minute of injury time to lash in at the left post from a deep corner kick to deny Wrexham a famous cupset.
Wrexham now will visit Bramall Lane for a replay as they once again look to complete a giant killing against the Blades.
What’s Next?
Wrexham resume their National League campaign and push for promotion to League Two with a trip to Altrincham in a 5:20pm GMT kick-off live on BT Sport, on Saturday 4 February.
Sheffield Utd visit Rotherham on Saturday 4 February in a 12:30pm GMT kick-off as the Blades continue their push for automatic promotion to the Premier League.
Teams
Wrexham: Mark Howard, Anthony Forde, Aaron Hayden (Jones 11′), Ben Tozer, Jordan Tunnicliffe (Cleworth 5′), Callum McFadzean (Dalby 75′), Luke Young, Thomas O’Connor, Elliot Lee, Paul Mullin, Ollie Palmer
Substitutes: Rob Lainton, Reece Hall-Johnson, Max Cleworth, Harry Lennon, Liam McAlinden, James Jones, Andy Cannon, Sam Dalby, Jake Bickerstaff
Sheffield Utd: Adam Davies, Jayden Bogle, Chris Basham,, John Egan, Anel Ahmedhodzic (Coulibaly 87′), Ben Osborn (Ndiaye 58′), Oliver Norwood, Tommy Doyle, James McAtee (Lowe 45′), Daniel Jebbison, Oli McBurnie (Sharp 58′)
Substitutes: Wes Foderingham, Jack Robinson, Max Lowe, Sai Sachdev, Ismaila Coulibaly, Louie Marsh, Iliman Ndiaye, Billy Sharp
Referee: Dean Whitestone
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