Sheffield United v Arsenal
The FA Cup, Fifth Round Replay
01 March 2005, 8.05pm
Bramall Lane



Sheffield United manager Neil Warnock has played down his side’s chances of beating Arsenal in their FA Cup Fifth Round replay at Bramall Lane tonight.

Blades striker Andy Gray scored a late penalty at Highbury to secure a battling 1-1 draw for the Championship side after Robert Pires had given Arsenal the lead.

"I think that was our best chance," insists Warnock. "The element of surprise has gone now and they know what to expect, so this match will be a lot tougher.

"With their Champions League result last week, they’re aware how important it is. They’ve always done well in The FA Cup and they love the competition."

In a further bid to ease the pressure on his players, Warnock says: "We’ve got to treat this match as a bonus and just go out and enjoy it. If you can’t enjoy a game like this, there’s something wrong. It’s got everything - it’ll be a fantastic atmosphere and a great game against great opposition.

"But we don’t want to concede one or two goals in the first five or ten minutes and suffer a white-wash. We want to try and give the fans something to hang their hat on and hopefully they’ll lift us."

Blades skipper Chris Morgan, who missed the first game against the Gunners through suspension, dismisses any suggestion that the balance will tip in United’s favour if Arsene Wenger again rests some of his star players.

He says: "When you’re at home, you fancy your chances more. But we’re still playing an Arsenal team and they don’t think they’re out of it. Whatever team they put out is going to be strong."

It remains to be seen whether Wenger will include Thierry Henry, and at the moment it seems unlikely, but Morgan is determined to rise to the challenge should the French superstar play.

"Thierry Henry is one of the best strikers in the world and as a defender, you’ve got to know his qualities, which are his pace and his finishing ability," says Morgan.

"On one hand, you’ve not got to show him too much respect because it’s your job to try and stop him. But you’ve got to realise what he’s good at."

The winners of the match, which is being televised live on BBC2, will travel to Bolton in the Quarter Finals of the competition.