Wembley dream is alive and kicking for Max Lowe and Sheffield United

Winning for winning’s sake has been the main theme of the Blades’ FA Cup run this season, which has taken them to the quarter-finals for a second year running.

But now they know that if they can win at Chelsea next month, a special incentive awaits, even if the last four games are played behind closed doors.

“It’s always going to be Wembley!” said wing-back Lowe, who hit the crossbar in Wednesday’s 1-0 win over Bristol City.

“When I was younger I dreamed of playing games at Wembley and I haven’t done that yet. It’s a dream for a lot of the lads in the changing room and we’ve got one eye on it but the most important thing was the win to keep the confidence going and we know we’re close.”

The occasion of a match at the home of football has been devalued since FA Cup semi-finals – historically played on neutral club grounds – were moved to Wembley, initially in the 1990s, and the rebuilt ground no longer has the twin towers which were once its trademark but even so, it still holds an aura for anyone who loves the game. At full-time on Wednesday the Bramall Lane tannoy blared out Que Sera.

Sheffield United’s progress in the competition has had a positive knock-on effect for the more important if less romantic job of staying in this season’s Premier League too.

They had not won a match all season until knocking Bristol Rovers out of the third round, but followed it immediately with their first league victory, over Newcastle United. Likewise their second, at in-form Manchester United, came on the back of winning at Plymouth Argyle in round four.

Now their run stands at six wins in nine matches in all competitions. With the teams above the dotted line picking up points too, escaping relegation will be a tall order but they have used the Cup to give themselves hope.

“The gaffer (manager Chris Wilder) said before (Wednesday’s) game it didn’t matter if it was a cup game or a league game we’re here to win. We’re performing at the minute and we want to keep it going,” revealed Lowe.

“We said before kick-off we knew games like this aren’t going to be easy. They’re going to be buzzing and you can see in the first 10 minutes (Bristol City) were itching to get going and after us from the first whistle.

“But I felt like we dealt with it well and created some early chances. We were unfortunate not to take some of those chances but we kept going and I think it showed at the final whistle.

“We said at the start we needed a good Cup run, it’s a positive to take out of the season and it keeps the run of games going and gives us a lot of confidence.

“We probably didn’t know it at the time but the gaffer said before the (Bristol City) game that’s where the run started and we all wanted to go for it. The confidence is there now.”

The Blades now have a couple of much-needed extra recovery days before travelling to West Ham United – knocked out of round five in extra-time by Manchester United on Tuesday – in Monday’s Premier League game.

“The (extra) days are vital in terms of getting that recovery and recuperation because the games have come thick and fast over the last few weeks,” commented Lowe. “We’ve got a few injuries with key players out so hopefully we can get a couple back and make the squad stronger.

“We played them earlier in the season (at Bramall Lane in November) and it was a tight game, they won 1-0 but there was not much in the game. The confidence is there so we were looking at it saying why can’t we win?

“They’re doing really well this season and they’ve got some stand-out players, especially going forward. They’re creative and they’ll be backing themselves to score so as a defender and not just as a defender, as a team, we’ll have to be on our game.”

Last night’s draw ensured that at least two potential winners will be weeded out before the semi-finals with two pairs of European contenders drawn against one another.

Everton’s reward for knocking out Tottenham Hotspur was another home tie against a heavyweight, facing Premier League leaders Manchester City. Twelve-time winners Manchester United will travel to Leicester City, who have played in four finals without lifting the trophy. The Foxes have not reached the semi-final since 1982.

Championship side Bournemouth were handed a home tie and a south coast derby, against Southampton.

Chelsea reached the last eight by beating Barnsley last night. They have won home and away against the Blades this season.

The Blades’ only FA Cup win over the Blues came in the 1915 final.

The ties will be played to a finish on the penultimate weekend in March.

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