Sheffield United vs Wrexham summary: score, goals and highlights | FA Cup
Sheffield United vs Wrexham: FA Cup as it happened
Peeeep peeeep peeeep! What a marvellous cup tie that was.
Sheffield United are through to the fifth round, where they'll host Tottenham - but a 3-1 scoreline doesn't even begin to tell the story of what happened at Bramall Lane tonight.
Led by the magnificent Paul Mullin, Wrexham had United on the ropes in the game's decisive stages, and would have led had Adam Davies not saved Mullin's second spot-kick. That miss was the turning point; thereafter, it was the home team that looked likelier to grab a late winner, and so it proved.
Ryan Reynolds' Wrexham are out of the FA Cup, but on the evidence of this tie, one suspects we'll be seeing them back in the Football League soon.
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United's McAtee is replaced by Andre Brooks, who will get about nine seconds of action.
Goal! Sheffield United 3-1 Wrexham - Berge makes sure!
Well, that's that. Wrexham have a penalty shout turned down, and Sheffield United break. For a moment, the attack breaks down, but McAtee wins it back and slips Berge into the area, where he lifts it over Lainton and into the net!
Goal! Sheffield United 2-1 Wrexham - Sharp surely wins it!
At one end, Palmer has a shoot chance for Wrexham, but when the hosts clear it, Cleworth gets his first touch all wrong and suddenly Sharp is running through on Lainton.
The 37-year-old's low finish is right into the corner, and the Blades lead with a minute of added time to go!
Berge is booked, I'm not sure why. Possibly for giving the ref a little bit too much lip about that penalty shout.
Sheffield United are screaming for a penalty - and look to have a point! Lee blocks Norwood's shot from the edge of the box, and does appear to block it with an outstretched arm. There's no VAR; were the officials to have the benefit of a video replay, I think we would be talking about a United spot-kick.
Six minutes of time added on in Sheffield.
Now Egan heads a Norwood corner down to Lowe, who heads over from six yards out! Wrexham are holding on.
Sheffield United goal disallowed - Billy Sharp
If anyone's going to snatch a late winner, it looks like it's going to be United. They think they've done just that when Sharp turns it into the net from close range, but the flag is up. Norwood controls and crosses from the right-hand channel, and Sharp's finish is excellent, but he was clearly off.
Close from Sharp! Robinson's long ball forward runs into the striker's path inside the box, and he meets it with a shot on the turn. He sends it just off target and into the stands, though.
Again Sheffield United get Berge into space to shoot from 20 yards or so out, but he skews his strike wide of goal.
The play has noticeably shifted back into the Wrexham half.
Berge tries a shot from the edge of the Wrexham area, and it's deflected behind for a corner. Norwood delivers, and it's finally Palmer who head behind for another corner. Again Norwood delivers, but Lainton punches clear.
Indeed, Mullin is brought off. He deservedly gets a huge ovation from the travelling supporters. Missed penalty notwithstanding, he's been utterly magnificent tonight. Cannon is also off, with Elliot Lee and Jake Bickerstaff on.
Mullin is down, and looks like he won't be able to continue. To say it's an understatement that Wrexham will miss him would be doing a disservice to understatements.
Wrexham equal 68-year-old record
Opta note that Wrexham have now become the first non-league side to score 15 goals in a single season of the FA Cup proper since Bishop Auckland in 1954/55. Coulda been 16, though...
Sheffield United replace their goalscorer, Ahmedhodzic, with Max Lowe.
Egan is booked for bringing down Mullin just inside the Sheffield United area. He may have missed that penalty, but that doesn't change the fact that he has caused the hosts' defence all manner of headaches tonight.
Wrexham make another change, replacing Lennon with Tom O'Connor.
What an opportunity spurned by Mullin. 15 minutes to go at Bramall Lane.
Mullin misses the penalty!
Well, Davies saves it, to be precise. Mullin looks to drive his penalty into the goalkeeper's right-hand corner, but hits it too centrally and it's in a nice position for Davies to parry.
Another penalty for Wrexham! This one's an absolute stonewaller. Norwood dives in recklessly on Mullin, cleans him out, and the referee has no option but to point to the spot.
You really cannot take your eyes off this game. At one end, Tozer loops over another of his long throws, but Sheffield United scramble it clear and break. Ndiaye cuts in from the left wing and lays it back to substitute Norwood to shoot.. but he scuffs it well wide.
Sheffield United replace Coulibaly with Oliver Norwood, who scored the Blades' second goal at the Racecourse Ground.
A moment earlier, McAtee had clipped in a cross from the right, but Sharp was unable to get on the end of it.
Wrexham have their tails up. A corner from the right is delivered right onto Mullin's head, the striker sensing the chance to add yet another goal to his FA Cup tally. He can't make a good connection with it, but it falls to Jones in space to shoot from 25 yards or so out. He gets plenty of welly behind his drive, but it's blocked.
This cup tie is set up beautifully for the final 25 minutes.
That's eight goals for Paul Mullin in the FA Cup this season.
Another penalty shout for Wrexham!
Again it's Mullin who's involved, the striker tumbling to the turf when he comes together with Robinson. But, this time, the referee says no.
Wrexham react to equalising by making a double change: Dalby and Mendy are off, and Oliver Palmer and Liam McAlinden are on.
Goal! Sheffield United 1-1 Wrexham - Mullin fires home from the spot!
Mullin puts his foot through the penalty, and sends it straight down the middle and high into the net! Wrexham are level! Just when it looked like this replay might get away from Phil Parkinson's men, too.
And boy are Wrexham still in it! They've been given a penalty!
Mullin is dragged back - I'd say just outside the box, but there you go - and the referee points to the spot!
That's fine attacking play by Sheffield United, but Lainton produces a terrific stop! The Blades really should be 2-0 up.
United get McAtee streaking into the Wrexham box on the right, and this time he does play the pass. It's perfectly into the path of Sharp, but Lainton makes himself big and blocks! Wrexham are still in it.
Now McAtee pings a cross into the box from the right, but it's also too long. It runs through to Lainton.
Can Wrexham respond?
Right away, Sheffield United come forward in search of a second. They're knocking it about with visible confidence now, and - having just scored - Ahmedhodiz almost turns provider. Receiving in the right-hand channel, he clips a low, curling ball over to the far post, but it's just beyond Ndiaye and Sharp.
Goal! Sheffield United 1-0 Wrexham - Ahmedhodzic break the deadlock!
Wrexham had made a very encouraging start to the second half, but the hosts are ahead! Sharp's cross from the left is too long, but Basham recovers the ball and feeds Osborn. He slips Ahmedhodiz into space on the right-hand side of the box, and he thumps past Lainton and high into the net!
Wrexham start on the front foot. Tozer sends in a series of long throws from the right, but the visitors can't find an opening.
Tozer then gets the chance to wind up a long throw from the left, but again Sheffield United clear.
Peeeeep! Back at Bramall Lane, the teams are out and the second half is go!
No half-time changes for either side.
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By the way, we also have live-text coverage of the Club World Cup semi-final between Flamengo and Al Hilal, which is into its final stages. The Brazilians are 3-1 down!
Half-time scores around the FA Cup
Here's how it stands at half time of today's four FA Cup fourth-round replays:
Sheffield United's Ismaila Coulibaly battles with Wrexham's Paul Mullin at Bramall Lane.
(Photo by Mike Egerton/PA Images via Getty Images)
Peeep peeep peeeep! That's half time. It's not as if Sheffield United have been overwhelmingly dominant, but most of the play has been in the Wrexham half and the hosts probably should be ahead by now. They've created a couple of good chances to score, not least when McAtee ran clear of the Wrexham defence. But he made a mess of his finish, and goalless it remains.
One Sheffield United corner becomes two, but at the second attempt, Wrexham deal with Osborn's delivery. United's Coulibaly then gets the first yellow of the evening, after hauling down Mullin as the striker sought to hold the ball up on the halfway line.
Berge gets it out of his feet and shoots from just outside of the Wrexham box, but it's deflected behind.
One minute of time added on at Bramall Lane.
Ahmedhodzic tries to jink his way into a pocket of space to shoot from around 30 yards out, but slips over. Wrexham bring it clear, and again Mendy is the Welshmen's chosen outlet. He bursts into a position to cross from the left, before whipping a decent-looking ball into the middle. Egan is there first, however, and heads away.
Cannon lays it back to Mendy, who can cross from the left for Wrexham. His delivery is going to have to better than that to give the Sheffield United defence any problems, and the hosts clear.
James McAtee looks suitably dejected after spurning the clearest chance of the first half.
(Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)
Osborn whips a left-wing corner right onto Egan's head, but he can't trouble Lainton.
At the other end, Mullin remains a threat when Wrexham can get him involved. Some neat combination play with Dalby almost sees the latter play the former into space to shoot inside the Sheffield United box, but his pass is just too long.
Tozer then sends a shot at goal from 30 yards or so out, but it's too close to Davies and is never going to trouble the United keeper.
What a save! Again Sheffield United should score!
Ndiaye barrels into the Wrexham box from the right, before cutting it back to Ahmedhodzic close to the penalty spot. He strikes first time, but Lainton beats it out!
A moment later, Sharp shoots from the left-hand corner of the area, but it's right at the Wrexham goalkeeper.
McAtee has spent the last couple of minutes with his head buried in his hands.
What a chance for Sheffield United to take the lead! McAtte fluffs it!
It's seriously ropey defending from Wrexham, who allow United to turn a defensive corner into a free run on goal in the space of about 10 seconds.
Suddenly, Ndiaye slips the ball right to McAtee on the halfway line, and he is clear. With Ndiaye peeling off to the left for the tap-in, McAtee goes it alone - and sends his shot wide!
We haven't heard much from Wrexham in attack for a little while, but when the Red Dragons get it up to Paul Mullin, he looks capable of making things happen.
Pulling the ball down on the edge of the United area, he gets it out of his feet and shoots - but it gets a touch off Egan, and Davies grabs hold of the ball! Very good forward play from Mullin, who didn't have much in the way of support.
Again McAtee drops a shoulder and shoots, this time from the right-hand corner of the box. Again, though, he punts a wayward shot well off target.
It's all being played in the Wrexham half. United work it out to Robinson, whose attempted cross is deflected behind. Another Osborn corner it will be.
Egan gets his head to Osborn's delivery, but the visitors clear. Back come the hosts, though. Berge clips a ball from right to left in search of the head of Sharp at the back post, but he's beaten to the ball by Lennon.
McAtee collects the ball some 40 yards out from the Wrexham goal, drops a shoulder, and bursts towards the top of the box. He pulls the trigger from 20 yards, but slices his left-footed shot well wide. He looks aggrieved, and well he might: it had opened up for him, there.
Sharp drops deep to receive the ball, before swivelling and playing it wide to Ndiaye. The Senegalese has runners into the box if he can provide a good ball... but he knocks his cross straight into Lainton's hands.
The hosts are definitely having more of the play, but you really can't see three divisions of difference between these two sides.
Again Sheffield United get Ndiaye on the ball. He plays a one-two with Osborn, cuts inside and strikes from the edge of the box - but it's blocked. The loose ball falls to Robinson, who sends a shot off target.
A moment later, Sharp crosses from the left, but it's too high, and Wrexham will clear.
At one end, Ndiaye tries to jink his way into shooting space inside the Wrexham box, but is crowded out. At the other end, Young tries to slip a low forward ball into Mullin's run to the top of the Sheffield United area, but the striker is muscled off it by Robinson.
Osborn whips another corner into the Wrexham box, his deep delivery finding Egan at the back post. The defender's can't beat Lainton, however.
Osborn's corner kick is delivered straight onto the head of Robinson, but he can't steer his effort through a crowd of players.
Immediately, Wrexham break - and if Mullin's control had been a bit better, he might have had a chance to run at the home defence and into the penalty area. He treads on the ball, though, and has to work it wide to Mendy, whose low cross is dealt with.
It's been a good start to this game. Plenty of attacking intent from both sides.
Back come Sheffield United, working it to Robinson to square from the left. He sends a low ball towards the near post, but Wrexham get it behind for a corner.
Ahmedhodzic looks to slip Basham into crossing space on the right-hand touchline, but overhits his pass. Cue howls of derision from the travelling Wrexham supporters.
Well, if the first three minutes are anything to do by, we're in a for an absolutely ding-dong cup tie at Bramall Lane.
No sooner have Wrexham set Mendy haring at the Sheffield United defence, than the hosts hit the visitors with a fast counter. Sharp tries to slip it left to Ndiaye, who has peeled off into shooting space just inside the box, but his ball is cut out.
It's all Sheffield United ball for the first 90 seconds or so, before Wrexham win it back and release Mendy into space on the left. Suddenly, he has acres to tear into, as home defenders back-pedal as if their lives depended on it. Mendy just overruns it on the edge of the United box, however, and the chance is lost.
Peeeeeep! Referee Leigh Doughty gets us underway!
Almost time to go at Bramall Lane!
With just under five minutes to go until kick-off, the teams are in the tunnel. Here's a reminder of the line-ups:
Sheffield United: Davies, Ahmedhodzic, Egan, Robinson, Basham, Coulibaly, Berge, McAtee, Osborn, Ndiaye, Sharp
Wrexham: Lainton, Lennon, Tozer, Cleworth, Forde, Young, Jones, Cannon, Mendy, Mullin, Dalby
When Wrexham knocked the champions out of the cup
For football fans of a certain age, Wrexham in the FA Cup immediately triggers memories of a famous upset at the Racecourse Ground just over 30 years ago. In the 1991/92 third round, Wrexham welcomed English champions Arsenal to Wales - and, on a famous night for the club, dumped the Gunners out of the cup.
Alan Smith gave Arsenal the lead just before the break, but with time running out in the second half, Mickey Thomas belted in an absolute ripsnorter of a free-kick to level for the hosts, who at the time were in the fourth tier of the English league game. Minutes later, Steve Watkin scrambled a finish into the corner to win it, prompting scenes of utter jubilation.
Enjoy:
Extra time and penalties if needed...
A reminder that, unlike in the old days, there'll be no second replay if this game ends all square after 90 minutes. There has to be a winner tonight, so we'll have 30 minutes' extra time and penalties if necessary.
Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson at Bramall Lane ahead of today's FA Cup replay.
(Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Reynolds eyeing Premier League rise
If Mr Reynolds has his way, Wrexham will be facing sides like Spurs week in, week out in the not too distant future. "Anything can happen in this sport, so why couldn’t Wrexham theoretically make it all the way to the Premier League one day?" the Hollywood star has told Sky Sports. "This is the place where hopes and dreams are born every day, so why not?”
Who will the winners face in the next round?
The winners of this replay will face eight-time FA Cup winners Tottenham in the fifth round. Spurs were 3-0 victors over Preston North End in the fourth round last month, thanks to a brace by Son Heung-min and one by new signing Arnaut Danjuma.
Sheffield United or Wrexham will be at home against the North Londoners.
(Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)
Wrexham chase first away win over Blades
Wrexham, by the way, have never beaten Sheffield United away from home. The teams have met three times before in Yorkshire - twice in league football, once in the League Cup. Two of those clashes were won by the hosts, with the other drawn.
Wrexham players take a walk out on the pitch ahead of kick-off at Bramall Lane.
(Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)
If you're wondering how you can tune in to the game on TV or online, let me point you in the direction of my colleague Fidel Rubio's guide on how and where to watch.
One option available to you is the online streaming service fubo TV, which offers a free trial.
My colleague Joe Brennan has more on Wrexham's bid for promotion from the National League.
The form guide: Wrexham
If you don’t include defeats on penalties, Wrexham haven’t lost in any of their last 24 games. The Red Dragons were beaten on spot-kicks by Altrincham in the FA Trophy in mid-January, but haven’t been defeated in 90 minutes since going down to leaders Notts County in the National League at the start of October.
Wrexham have won 18 of their last 24 matches.
The Welshmen are second in the National League, three points off Notts County in the only automatic promotion spot. However, the Red Dragons have two games in hand - so they're very well placed to seal a return to league football without the need to go through the playoffs.
The form guide: Sheffield United
Both today’s teams are on runs of really rather decent form.
Sheffield United are unbeaten in 11 games in all competitions, having last suffered defeat in early November. In the league, the Blades look to be poised for a return to the top flight: second in the Championship, they’re 10 points clear of third-placed Middlesbrough, with a game hand.
At the weekend, United drew 0-0 with Rotherham in the league.
Blue Dragons
Wrexham will be in their light blue away kit at Bramall Lane tonight, while Sheffield United will revert back to their traditional red and white stripes.
Unsurprisingly, Mullin is among the players profiled by my colleague Joe Brennan in this piece on Wrexham's stand-out players.
Mullin the FA Cup's master marksman
Paul Mullin’s seven FA Cup goals this season make him not only Wrexham’s top scorer, but also the competition’s leading marksman full stop. Indeed, no-one has netted as many times in a single FA Cup campaign since Will Grigg bagged seven for Wigan in 2017/18.
Overall this term, Mullin has scored a mightily decent 27 goals in 32 appearances across the National League and FA Cup.
Wrexham's FA Cup run so far
Meanwhile, Wrexham’s FA Cup run began rather earlier - in the fourth qualifying round back at the start of October, to be exact.
Phil Parkinson’s men beat Blythe Spartans to reach the first round proper, where they despatched Oldham Athletic. Farnborough and Coventry were then beaten to set up a fourth-round clash with Sheffield United.
As stats specialists Opta point out, Wrexham’s haul of 14 goals thus far is the most by a non-league side in the FA Cup proper since Woking in 1978/79.
Sheffield United's FA Cup run so far
Courtesy of our colleagues at SofaScore, here's an at-a-glance look at Sheffield United's FA Cup campaign so far.
Before drawing with Wrexham nine days ago, the Blades beat Millwall 2-0 in the third round. Daniel Jebbison and Jayden Bogle got the goals for Paul Heckingbottom's men, who sit second in the Championship.
The image has Oli McBurnie as United's FA Cup top scorer, but in truth he shares that honour with four other players. Nobody in a red and white shirt has scored more than once in the competition this term.
Reynolds' clarion call ahead of replay
Ahead of today's trip to Sheffield, Reynolds - who bought the club in late 2020, together with fellow actor Rob McElhenney - tweeted: "Wrexham’s travel plans include sightseeing, fine dining, and punching well above their weight class."
Reynolds runs gamut of emotions
Wrexham's celebrity co-owner, Ryan Reynolds, was in the stands at the Racecourse - and was put through the proverbial ringer.
(Photo by Peter Byrne/PA Images via Getty Images)
What happened in the teams' first meeting?
What didn't happen...?! A thriller at the Racecourse Ground went right to the wire.
Oli McBurnie gave Sheffield United an early lead in Wales, but James Jones and Thomas O’Connor turned the scoreboard on its head shortly after half time. Oli Norwood quickly restored parity for the favourites, but when Paul Mullin netted his seventh FA Cup goal this term with only minutes left, Wrexham looked to have secured a major upset. However, John Egan’s leveller deep, deep into stoppage time rescued the visitors.
United will be without Daniel Jebbison after he was sent off with 20 minutes left at the Racecourse Ground, for kicking out at Ben Tozer.
Sheffield United vs Wrexham: welcome!
Hello, hello! After their epic, six-goal draw at the Racecourse Ground at the end of January, Sheffield United and Wrexham meet once more in the FA Cup fourth round today, as the Red Dragons again bid to make competition history.
Wrexham, who sit second in the National League, can become the first ever non-league side based outside of England to reach the FA Cup fifth round. The Welshmen haven’t gone so deep into the tournament since 1996/97.
As for Sheffield United, the Championship club are out to qualify for the fifth round for the third time in five seasons. United are four-time winners of the FA Cup - but it’s been a while. They last lifted the trophy in 1925.
Team news should be dropping in about an hour's time.