Billy Sharp and Sander Berge struck late to seal a tense 3-1 victory for Sheffield United against Wrexham in a Fourth Round Replay.
Injury-time goals from Billy Sharp and Sander Berge on quick counter-attacks saw Sheffield Utd snatch the win and a Fifth Round spot.
Anel Ahmedhodzic had put the Blades ahead with a 50th minute close-range strike after playing one-two into the box with Ben Osborn.
Paul Mullin then had equalised for the National League club with a 59th minute penalty, after he had drawn a controversial foul from Ahmedhodzic.
Sheffield United now host Tottenham Hotspur in the Fifth Round at Bramall Lane on Wednesday 1 March, live on BBC One in a 7:55pm GMT kick-off.
Like in the initial tie which finished 3-3, Sheffield Utd began on the front foot but this time struggled to create many clear-cut chances in the opening 15 minutes, aside from headers by Jack Robinson and John Egan which were blocked in the eighth and 11th minutes respectively.
Robinson then curled a 17th minute attempt wide of the top-right corner before Sander Berge one minute later saw a shot denied by Rob Lainton.
Lainton was then lucky not to concede in the following ten minutes as James McAtee wasted two huge chances to rifle the Blades ahead.
Wrexham meanwhile defended stubbornly and struggled to create many attacks, although Paul Mullin was the first to go close with a deflected 28th minute shot.
Utd consequently cleared the resulting corner and McAtee raced forward on the counter-attack alongside Iliman Ndiaye, yet chose to fire upon goal himself rather than square to Ndiaye – which backfired as he rifled wide of the bottom-left corner.
Lainton meanwhile denied Anel Ahmedhodzic and Billy Sharp in quick succession as Wrexham continued to frustrate the Blades, who continously struggled to find that clinical final touch in an eventual goalless first half.
Wrexham however came out and began to attack the game more with Ben Tozer delivering two long throw-ins, which both came to nothing.
Sheffield Utd though managed to make their first attack of the second half count, as Sharp’s cross was nodded behind by Jacob Mendy, only for Chris Basham to collect and tee up Ahmedhodzic to play one-two into box with Osborn before he smashed the Blades ahead from close-range.
McAtee seven minutes later broke forward at pace and teed up Sharp whose shot was denied by Lainton, which led Wrexham to launch an attack up the other end which was halted by Ahmedhodzic’s foul on Mullin into the penalty box.
Referee, Leigh Doughty instantly awarded a penalty kick which Mullin duly smashed down the middle to equalise.
Wrexham then saw a 62nd minute penalty appeal denied after substitute, Ollie Palmer was fouled by Jack Robinson.
Sheffield Utd almost responded five minutes later to that lucky penalty appeal dismissal with a second goal, only for Sharp to head McAtee’s cross over the bar.
Mullin up the other end continued to cause mayhem and drew a 69th minute foul from Oliver Norwood, only for his attempt to replicate his previous spot-kick to this time be denied by Adam Davies’ save.
Sheffield Utd thereafter began to reassert their superiority but the fifth-tier team stubbornly defended hard in hope of extra-time, although they got lucky in the 88th minute as an offside flag denied Sharp a late winner from Norwood’s curled cross.
Norwood then saw penalty appeals denied after his shot in the first minute of injury-time was handballed as it flew through the box.
Paul Heckingbottom’s Blades however clinched victory in the 94th minute as Palmer’s shot was deflected and cleared up field, only for Sharp to pounce upon a loose touch and calmly rifle across into the bottom-left corner to spark wild celebrations.
Utd proceeded to add a third goal in the final minute of injury time as McAtee picked up a counter attack pass, only to briefly lose possession before playing Berge through to lash across into the top-left corner to seal victory.
That late win now means that Sheffield Utd will host Spurs on Wednesday 1 March in the Fifth Round.
What’s Next?
Sheffield Utd will resume their promotion challenge as they host Swansea at Bramall Lane on Saturday 11 February at 3pm GMT in the Sky Bet Championship.
Wrexham meanwhile host Wealdstone at the Racecourse Ground at the same time on Saturday, down in the National League where the Welsh club are looking to claim promotion to League Two.
Teams
Sheffield United: Adam Davies, Chris Basham, Anel Ahmedhodzic (Lowe 78′), John Egan, Jack Robinson, Ben Osborn, Sander Berge, Ismaila Coulibaly, James McAtee, Iliman Ndiaye, Billy Sharp
Substitutes: Wes Foderingham, Max Lowe, Oliver Norwood, Ciaran Clark, Oliver Arblaster, Andre Brooks, Louie Marsh, Joe Starbuck
Wrexham: Rob Lainton, Anthony Forde, Max Cleworth, Ben Tozer, Harry Lennon (O’Connor 74′), Jacob Mendy (McAlinden 60′), Luke Young, James Jones, Andy Cannon (Lee 82′), Paul Mullin (Bickerstaff 82′), Sam Dalby (Palmer 60′)
Substitutes: Rory Watson, Aaron James, Scott Butler, Bryce Hosannah, Liam McAlinden, Thomas O’Connor, Elliot Lee, Ollie Palmer, Jake Bickerstaff
Referee: Leigh Doughty
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