Sunderland

1-0

Sheffield United

Smith 15

 


 

FA Cup Sixth Round
Sunday 07 March 2004

An early goal from Tommy Smith was enough for Sunderland to beat their First Division rivals Sheffield United and go through to The FA Cup Semi-Finals.

The 23-year-old striker, who dumped the Black Cats out of the competition in the Fifth Round last season with a twice-taken penalty and redeemed himself in the Fifth Round this year with an extra-time double in a replay at Birmingham, settled a tense tie with a superb 15th-minute effort to leave the Wearside faithful thinking back to 1973 and the possibility of an unlikely repeat.

Smith had already headed a John Oster cross straight at goalkeeper Paddy Kenny when he fired his side in front by rounding off a flowing move.

George McCartney accepted Mart Poom's throw and exchanged passes with Julio Arca before picking out the striker on the edge of the penalty area.

He took one controlling touch before thumping a left-foot shot across Kenny and into the back of the net.

Neil Warnock knew he had to change things at half-time and sent on Paul Peschisolido and Alan Wright for Andy Parkinson and veteran midfielder Stuart McCall. His troops responded quickly.

Chris Morgan got his head to a Tonge corner and Phil Jagielka just failed to connect in front of goal after 48 minutes.

Wayne Allison had a shot blocked by Gary Breen and Peter Ndlovu missed his kick in front of goal after Allison had headed down a Stephen Wright cross.

United continued to pile on the pressure but Sunderland held on to book their place in the last four.

Team Details

Sunderland: Poom, Wright, Breen, Babb, McCartney, Oster (Thornton, 84), McAteer, Whitley, Arca (Thirlwell, 76), Kyle, Tommy Smith (Stewart, 84).
Subs Not Used: Ingham, Williams.

Sheff Utd: Kenny, Phil Jagielka, Page, Morgan, Kozluk, Parkinson (Wright, 45), Montgomery, McCall (Peschisolido, 45), Tonge, Ward (Allison, 8), Ndlovu
Subs Not Used: Rankine, Lester.

Booked: McCartney, Stewart, Parkinson

Attendance: 37,115
Referee: S Dunn (Gloucestershire).