Collins is Blades hero with last-gasp winner
The defender, who had been on the field for just six minutes, headed home a James Wallace corner from close range to prevent the impending extra time.
United had had the better of the second half, with substitute Che Adams proving an inspiration. The former Ilkeston flyer gave United extra pace and he quickly forced Morecambe keeper Barry Roche into two saves.
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Hide AdThe chances kept coming in the second half but some far from convincing finishing from Connor Sammon and Marc McNulty always meant Morecambe were in with a chance of a giantkilling.
Thankfully for the Blades Morecambe’s finishing was as wasteful as theirs. In the closing stages Jamie Devitt was put through on goal but with a man over the Shrimps’ striker made a real hash of his final ball.
The closest either side went to scoring in the first half was when Morecambe midfielder Lee Molyneux hit the foot of the Blades’ post with a 35-yard free kick.
The Blades then hit back and wasted two golden chances of their own. Sammon failed to hit the target from 10 yards before full back Kieron Freeman volleyed wide from close range.
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Hide AdMorecambe: Roche, Beeley, Edwards, Parrish, Wilson, Wildig (Kenyon 56), Goodall, Fleming (Ellison 71), Devitt, Molyneux (Miller 80), Mullin. Unused substitutes: Thompson, McGowan, Ryan, Doyle.
Sheffield Utd: Howard, Freeman, McEveley, Edgar (Collins 84), K Wallace, Scougall, J Wallace (Reed 90), Woolford (Adams 45), McNulty, Sammon. Unused substitutes: Long, Sharp, Higdon, Fadzean,
Referee: S Martin.