Sheffield United 3-4 Mansfield Town: Former Blade Scores Stunner to Help Clough’s Stags Advance

Sheffield United suffered a shock defeat at home against Mansfield Town in the FA Cup third round on Sunday afternoon.

The Stags took the lead through former Blades midfielder Louis Reed when he rifled home a volley into the top right corner from outside of the box. United answered back in equally exquisite fashion when Gustavo Hamer swivelled on the ball and unleashed a signature long shot. Moments before half-time, Reed tried his luck from range once more and his volley took a slight deflection which wrong-footed United’s keeper.

United have struggled all season coming out of half-time and those scars were opened up yet again when Lucas Akins latched onto a Rhys Oates cross and powered a first-time shot under Adam Davies. Oates soon made it four when he cleverly flicked the ball beyond his marker down the left and flew into the box before stabbing the ball into the bottom left corner. The Blades had a quick response from Patrick Bamford who reacted quickest from close range, and a Moriah-Walsh own goal had Mansfield worried until the end.

Lineups

Blades: A. Davies, Arblaster (Riedewald 84), Hamer, Ings (Bamford 56) Hoever (Seriki 56), Burrows, Mee, Soumaré (T. Davies 70), Campbell, Chong (Brooks 56), McGuinness.

Unused: Faxon, McCallum, Bindon, Cannon.

Mansfield: Roberts, Sweeney, Cargill, Akins, Evans (McLaughlin 84), McDonnell (Russell 76), Oates (Adeboyejo 76) Blake-Tracy, Moriah-Welsh (Lewis 76), Oshilaja, Reed.

Subs: Mason, Hewitt, Dwyer, Bolton, Irow.

First Half

United were on the front foot from the opening whistle and carved out early opportunities inside the Mansfield penalty area within the first five minutes. Tyrese Campbell, Danny Ings and Gustavo Hamer all came close in rapid succession, but each was denied as they searched for the space needed to pull the trigger.

At the other end, Mansfield’s intent was clear and it was the lively Rhys Oates who first tested the Blades’ resolve, forcing Adam Davies into two sharp saves. From the resulting corner, United failed to fully clear their lines and the hosts capitalised in spectacular fashion. Reed picked up the loose ball well outside the area and unleashed a stunning strike into the top corner, leaving Davies with no chance.

Mansfield’s advantage lasted just a few minutes when Hamer found a pocket of space on the edge of the box and responded in kind, curling an equally sumptuous effort into the top corner to level matters for the Blades.

As half-time approached, United threatened to take control. Chong volleyed wide from a Harrison Burrows cross, but it was Mansfield who struck again before the break. Reed volleyed the hosts back in front, his effort taking a deflection off Oliver Arblaster to wrong-foot Davies.

Second Half

Five minutes into the second half, Mansfield extended their lead. Oates surged down the right-hand side before pulling the ball back perfectly for Lucas Akins, who finished calmly under Adam Davies into the far corner.

Oates continued to torment the United defence and, after once again getting the better of Mee, he beat the onrushing Davies at his near post to cap off an excellent individual performance.

The introduction of Bamford made a big difference as the striker reacted quickest to turn home from close range after McGuinness had kept Hamer’s outswinging corner alive, and on 65 minutes United were handed further encouragement when Oshilaja diverted a Brooks cross into his own net, with Burrows lurking and ready to pounce.

United pushed hard for an equaliser. Burrows saw a powerful strike beaten away by Roberts, before Sweeney produced a remarkable block to deny Campbell, whose effort looked destined for the back of the net.

Despite the late pressure, Mansfield held firm to secure a dramatic underdog victory.