Sheffield United 2 Manchester United 2: Blades in Cup tonic as kids offer hope for future

But whatever happens in Monday night’s second leg, the current crop of Blades youngsters are offering hope of a brighter future to a club currently lying in a deep dark hole.

Goals from Jordan Slew and Callum McFadzean secured a 2-2 draw against the kids from the Premier League champions.

Nearly 30,000 supporters attended the game too – even more than watched the last Steel City derby at Bramall Lane two seasons ago. Talk about testimony to the power of youth.

The dust is still settling on a season of heartbreak at Bramall Lane.

It is now 18 days since the club was relegated to League One – a setback that has sent shockwaves around Bramall Lane.

The manager and the chief executive have lost their jobs and a whole host of first-teamers are heading to the exit door this summer.

The search for a new manager is underway with Mark Robins, Sean O’Driscoll, and Roberto Di Matteo all in the frame.

John Pemberton, the club’s Academy Director, was viewed as an early favourite by the bookmakers but his success with this youth team could count against him.

Chairman Kevin McCabe views Pemberton’s role almost as important as that of the first-team manager – so why change something that is working so well?

Pemberton has guided the club’s Under-18s to a first FA Youth Cup final and a number of his players have also seen service in the club’s fight against relegation.

Defenders Harry Maguire and Terry Kennedy, striker Jordan Slew, goalkeeper George Long, and midfielder Matt Harriott all played in the final game of Micky Adam’s reign at Swansea City.

At Old Trafford, of course, there is no such urgency to throw youngsters into the first team.

When you are the richest club in the world with an abundance of top internationals at your disposal, only a supremely talented teenager can force his way into the spotlight.

Midfielder Ravel Morrison, used only as a last-minute substitute in a Carling Cup tie with Wolves, was the only player player in the away side with any first-team experience.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was in the director’s box last night monitoring the progress of the Old Trafford youth players.

Morrison soon blotted his copybook – losing the ball when show-boating and nearly costing his side a goal.

Both teams played a tidy passing game and, after the torment of the last nine months, that was a treat for the home supporters.

Initially, the boys from the Premier League had the edge but, as the Blades kids settled down, there were fewer and fewer signs of a class divide.

Warrington-born Jesse Lingard put Manchester United ahead after 15 minutes with a close-range header that Maguire only just failed to clear off the line.

The Blades youngster headed the ball against the underside of the bar and back into play but referee Michael Oliver ruled that it had already crossed the line.

Maguire kept the score at 1-0 when he blocked a shot from Morrison that had slid under goalkeeper Long.

And the Blades were unlucky not to equalise from a corner when captain Elliott Whitehouse saw a diving header headed off the line by visiting captain Tom Thorpe.

When McFadzean equalised on the stroke of half-time, it sparked the sort of roar that has not been heard too often at Bramall Lane this season.

His 25-yard drive fizzed through the air and past goalkeeper Sam Johnstone and he was soon being mobbed by his team-mates.

Interestingly, McFadzean’s older brother Kyle was released by the Blades five years ago after making just one first-team appearance – yet played for Crawley Town against United at Old Trafford in this season’s FA Cup.

Others who caught the eye last night were goalkeeper Long, making a number of key saves and Whitehouse, who was a dynamo in the centre of the park. For the visitors, Frenchman Paul Pogba, was a towering midfielder reminiscent of a young Patrick Vieira.

Pogba’s brilliant invention opened the door for striker Will Keane to score United’s second on 70 minutes but Slew equalised within minutes courtesy of a well-struck, but deflected, drive.

The final whistle brought a standing ovation from both sets of supporters. Another testimony to the power of youth.

Sheffield United: Long; Montgomery, Maguire (Pomares 86), Kennedy, Barry; Harriott; Gregory (Wilkinson 71), Whitehouse, McFadzean; Slew, Ironside (Martin 74). Unused substitutes: Willis, Ahmadi.

Manchester United: Johnstone; M.Keane, Thorpe, Fornasier, McGinty; Lingard, Pogba, Tunnicliffe, Van Velzen (Cofie 75); Morrison, W. Keane. Unused substitutes: Massaci, Coll, Fryers, Lawrence.

Referee: M Oliver (Northumberland).