It was an away day for the city of Sheffield yesterday,as both United and Wednesday were involved in FA Cup third round matches on theroad at Premier League opposition, but they experienced mixed fortunes in the historiccompetition. While United were putting paid to the hopes of Harry Redknapp’sside at Loftus Road, their Hillsborough rivals almost repeated the feat attitle challengers, Manchester City, only to have their hopes dashed late on.
QPR 0 Sheffield United 3
Unitedmay only be a League One side these days, but they have something of areputation as giant-killers in recent seasons in the cup competitions and so itproved again in the capital.
Although their recent league form has been improvingsomewhat, especially at home, Rangers’ FA Cup form is nothing short of calamitous. This loss meant that they have now onlymanaged two cup wins in the last fourteen seasons, so it may actually have beenmore of a shock if they had managed to progressto the next round.
Asit was, that was never likely as top marksman Marc McNulty put the Blades intothe lead and then, as the Hoops seemed to play with increasing defensiveabandon, Jamal Campbell-Ryce twice seized on errors of their own making to capa fine victory for the Yorkshire side.
Manchester City 2 Sheffield Wednesday 1
TheEtihad used to be a fortress for City but more teams seem willing to take themon in their own back yard than not these days, and so it proved again as the Owlstook the lead on 14 minutes, when a quick break allowed Stevie May to advancedown the right flank, before crossing for Austrian striker, Atdhe Nuhiu tosweep the ball home.
