Matchday blog – Millwall vs Sheffield United
Match number 474: Millwall vs Sheffield United FA Cup Fourth Round
Saturday 25th January 2020
With both Millwall and Sheffield United playing well in the league of late, this game seemed the perfect match to go to this weekend.
Sheffield United have exceeded all expectations in their first season back in the Premier League for 12 years. Manager Chris Wilder has taken them up from League One and have been playing some exciting football.
Gary Rowett took over from fan’s favourite Neil Harris in October and has rejuvenated the club. He explained in the press recently that he has only had to make a few tweaks to the team but that doesn’t do him justice.
Since Rowett took charge at The Den, Millwall had only lost twice in 16 games under Rowett before yesterday’s game.
Despite a Premier League club visiting South London, there were still tickets available on the gate. Sheffield United hadn’t sold all of their tickets either, with noticeable gaps across the Upper Tier of the stand where the Blades fans were occupied.
The first half was relatively uneventful although both teams had good opportunities to score.
Millwall had the first real chance after a long ball forward from defender Jake Cooper went over the United defence, setting Aiden O’Brien free.
The striker cut inside from the left and tried to place the ball into the far corner, but Blades’ keeper Dean Henderson saved easily.
United’s chance came after Chris Basham knocked the ball through for Billy Sharp, who took the ball around Bartosz Bialkowski in the Millwall goal.
Sharp hit the ball at goal from a tight angle but it was cleared off the line by defender James Brown.
Mo Besic broke the deadlock to give United the lead. Up to that point, the game had been pretty even but Besic was given too much time on the edge of the box and he was able to hit a high, curling shot inside into the far corner.
Ollie Norwood fired home a first-time shot from outside of the box on the 84th minute and it was Sheffield United who would progress to the Fifth Round.
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