Blades still believe that they can continue Cup run, says Clough

Chris Porter is swamped by team mates as they celebrate his opening goal

The Blades were handed a possible home tie with Nottingham Forest or Preston North End in yesterday’s draw, providing they can negotiate the trip to Craven Cottage a week tomorrow.

Elsewhere, Hull City must travel to Brighton & Hove Albion as Sheffield Wednesday host Charlton Athletic in a fifth round that also paired Manchester City and Chelsea together along with  Arsenal against Liverpool.

As the lowest-placed side still in the competition, the Blades will be second favourites to prevail at Fulham in the replay after a controversial 1-1 draw at Bramall Lane that saw the hosts reduced to 10 men following the dismissal of Michael Doyle just eight minutes into the second half.

Clough felt the red card – for lashing out at Fulham’s Chris David – had cost his League One battlers dear.

But the Blades chief insists his players can emulate their achievement of the last round when they triumphed at the home of Premier League Aston Villa.

Clough said: “We are looking forward to the replay. We went to Villa Park and got a result. We matched them (yesterday).

“People might say we don’t need the replay. But we are still in the competition. We were in the draw and we want to get through.

“We have a real belief we can go to Craven Cottage and do well. Fulham have some very important league games coming up, just like we have. Anything is possible.”

If Clough’s United can again upset the odds at Craven Cottage, they will join the Tigers and Owls as Yorkshire’s remaining representatives in the Cup.

Hull beat Southend United 2-0 at Roots Hall thanks to a second-half double from Matty Fryatt, while Wednesday beat Rochdale, who had claimed the scalp of Leeds United in the third round, 2-1 despite having Joe Mattock sent off with almost half an hour still to play at Spotland.

Huddersfield Town, meanwhile, crashed out 1-0 at home to Charlton Athletic, who must now travel to Hillsborough in round five.

For Hull, a visit to the Amex Stadium is eminently winnable, and with two from Chelsea, Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool certain to go out over the weekend of February 15-16, the prospect of the Tigers enjoying a long run in the Cup has opened up.

Bruce, who made nine changes against Southend, said: “Our priority has got to be staying in the Premier League but I am told this is the second time in 25 years we have been this far in the FA Cup. So, why not have a go at it? I made nine changes against Middlesbrough and nine changes again (on Saturday) but the people I am bringing in, like (Matty) Fryatt, (Danny) Graham, (Stephen) Quinn, (David) Meyler, (Abdoulaye) Faye and (Paul) McShane, they are not exactly risks are they? They are good players in their own right. It’s a toss up between a lot of them as to who should start.

“When they play like that they remind me of how we got promoted last year. People like McShane, Meyler, (George) Boyd, Quinn; they got me promoted last year. I have got no problem turning to them.”

Sheffield United’s draw with Fulham was the penultimate game of a fourth round that will not live long in the memory.

The biggest ‘upset’ of note came when Wigan Athletic of the Championship knocked out Premier League Crystal Palace, though as the Latics are the reigning Cup holders then any ‘shock’ value is surely negated.

Had the Blades held on to beat Fulham, however, then there is little doubt that Clough’s men would have been the toast of the Cup for the second round running.

Even allowing for Doyle’s dismissal, Clough felt referee Andre Marriner – who turned down good shouts for penalties from both teams in yesterday’s tussle – made mistakes that affected the result.

The Blades chief, who is likely to be without Harry Maguire (knee) and Chris Porter (hamstring) in Wednesday’s league clash with Peterborough United, said: “Andre is one of the nicest guys you will meet but some of his decisions frustrated us.

“When he came over (to the Blades’ bench in the wake of rejecting a penalty appeal by Ryan Flynn), he asked me to calm everyone down.

“We were getting a little bit too irate with the fourth official, but that is because the passion takes over. That is a great way of doing things and a lot better than sending people to the stand.

“It wasn’t an individual thing. He said, ‘Irrespective of the decisions I am making’.

“I replied how it would be nice if he could get one right now and again then that will calm us down.”

Draw for FA Cup fifth round...

Manchester City v Chelsea

Sheffield United or Fulham v Nottingham Forest or Preston

Arsenal v Liverpool

Brighton v Hull

Cardiff v Wigan

Sheffield Wednesday v Charlton

Sunderland v Southampton

Everton v Swansea

Ties to be played weekend of February 15-16.