Sheffield United 2 Plymouth Argyle 1 – Blades hold on for precious FA Cup win

Two goals up and seemingly coasting into the last 16 through goals either side of half-time from Chris Basham and Billy Sharp, League One Plymouth Argyle pulled a goal back to create a nervous ending for the Premier League’s bottom markers.

That they managed to negotiate the last 15 minutes without much alarm will be a relief, as will a third win in 15 days when previously they had been made to wait six months for a victory.

That run sees them marooned at the foot of the Premier League and near certainties for relegation.

But for the second Saturday in three they were able to edge out lower league opposition by the odd goal.

It was the least they deserved but the narrow margin of victory will do little to instil the confidence required to mount a survival challenge in the Premier League.

After some errant finishing with Sharp, Rhian Brewster and John Lundstram all off target, Basham opened the scoring with a back post, downward header from Sharp’s cross after some neat build-up play.

Then a minute into the second half Sharp turned goalscorer, rounding goalkeeper Michael Cooper and tucking the ball home after a delicious pass from Oli Norwood had split the Argyle defence.

But Panutche Camara - guilty of missing an easier chance with the score at 0-0 - fired in a shot from Byron Moore’s cutback that squirmed under Aaron Ramsdale.

United by then had removed club record signing Brewster from the action, the former Liverpool striker still to find the net for his new club.

Nevertheless, United closed the game out and it means another home tie against EFL opposition in the fifth round after Bristol City won 3-0 at Millwall to book a trip to Bramall Lane.

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