No need to panic says new Blades boss after Villa defeat

Adams, appointed three games ago, had only 12 senior players available for Saturday's third round defeat against Aston Villa. He was unable to fill his bench and included five youngsters who boasted just one competitive start between them in senior football.

With the Blades only one point clear of the Championship relegation zone, Adams will step up his search for new players ahead of next weekend's trip to Coventry City but may have to rely on loan signings due to financial pressures at the club.

"It's pretty obvious to everybody that we need strengthening, when we are going into an FA Cup tie and can only name six substitutes with three or four of those YT boys," he said. "We are Sheffield United and we need reinforcements.

"It is going to turn and it will turn around – it is not panic stations," he stressed. "The phone has been red hot (from players' agents) but I have got to be careful as a lot of the offers are for other people's 'problems'. We have got enough problems of our own!"

Adams revealed that winger Mark Yeates had become the latest addition to the club's injury list after dislocating a shoulder in training last Friday. The Blades now have 10 senior players unavailable due to injuries.

Former Blades defender Kyle Walker set Villa on the road to a 3-1 victory at Bramall Lane – capping his debut with his first senior goal following a loan move from Tottenham Hotspur.

Commenting on the game, Adams said: "With the squad we have got, or we have thrown together, we have got to be pleased that we lost a game of football 'with our boots on' rather than rolling over and letting it be a walk-over for Villa. At half time, I told the boys that Villa would be thinking the game is won (at 2-0). We were terrific in the second half and we nearly pulled it off."

York City's FA Cup adventure story ended in defeat against Premier League Bolton Wanderers but the Minstermen held on for 83 minutes before conceding two late goals.

Manager Gary Mills has transformed the fortunes of the Minstermen since taking charge in October and was understandably disappointed not to be in the hat for the fourth round.

"I'm gutted but proud of my team," he said. "I'm gutted for everybody but, for me, there's a lot of positives there, we're moving forward and starting to play well."

Barnsley also fell victim to top-flight opposition, losing 2-0 at West Ham United while Hull City mounted a late fightback with two goals from Nick Barmby but were eventually beaten 3-2 at home by Wigan Athletic.

Middlesbrough suffered one of the shocks of the third round, losing 2-1 to Paul Peschisolido's League Two side Burton Albion thanks to a late double by Shaun Harrad.

Middlesbrough manager Tony Mowbray said: "It's another example of one goal never being enough. They had two shots and scored two goals."