Sheffield United v Blackburn: FA Cup quarter-final

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Here’s Jonathan Liew’s match report from Bramall Lane.

Paul Heckingbottom, the Blades manager.

Pleased with the performance, proud and it was a fantastic game where both teams played their part. We went behind twice to one of the best counter-attacking teams in the division. Some players are not willing to shoot from there but Tommy is not one of those. A fantastic goal and one worth winning any game. Plenty of players who have not been to Wembley, it was a game of big moments and it lived up to it.

Some reaction from Jon-Dahl Tomasson, the Blackburn manager.

Bitterly disappointed to lose the game. You know how cruel and tough football can be. Disappointed we couldn’t give our fans the dream of going to Wembley. It was enjoyable for the fans and congratulations to Sheffield United. The players did an excellent job and will be disappointed like we all are. They should be proud when they look back on this cup run It was something special.

Here’s the winning goal, and it was a beauty,

Tommy Doyle, FA Cup goal hero, speak to ITV: “Amazing. We worked really hard for that. We made it difficult for ourselves at times but to be going to Wembley is a special feeling. I just give it a good wallop. Probably one the best feelings I have had when the fans go mental. I want to create my own history.”

Updated at 10.10 EDT

Full-time: Sheffield United 3-2 Blackburn Rovers

Tommy Doyle, the grandson of two FA Cup winners from 1969, was the hero of a classic Cup match that rolled back the years to remind of just how good the competition can be. It’s all on the line, and games can swing in so many directions. Blackburn will rue a tie that got away from them but have the play-offs to think of. Blades can dream of Wembley, and must hope it doesn’t distract them from automatic promotion. What a game.

Doyle is congratulated by Sheffield United’s manager Paul Heckingbottom. Photograph: Darren Staples/AFP/Getty Images

Updated at 10.04 EDT

90+8 min: Basham tries to launch away the ball but a corner is conceded. One last chance, and up goes Aynsley Pears. But the ball is headed clear, and that’s that. Blades are off to Wembley in five weeks.

90+7 min: Ndiaye almost composes another, but Bogle’s finish is rather tired for a second-half sub.

90+5 min: Bramall Lane is rocking, and the plastic Alan Cork beards can be put on the production line by the swagmen. Wembley Way will be thick with the smog of Woodbines.

90+3 min: Tommy Doyle, of course, is the grandson of two late City legends in Glyn Pardoe and Mike Doyle. On the television commentary, rather unfortunately, Clive Tyldesley appears unaware they are both no longer with us and thinks they will be celebrating together. Perhaps they will be, but that’s a whole, other, very deep question.

Updated at 10.09 EDT

Goal! Sheffield United 3-2 Blackburn (Doyle, 90+1)

From long distance, having had an earlier sighter, the Manchester City loanee, slams in a shot, across Foderingham and beyond. What a goal, a minor FA Cup classic.

Doyle scores sees his shot cross swerve in. Photograph: Nigel French/PADoyle celebrates with teammates after scoring. Photograph: Jan Kruger/Getty Images

Updated at 09.59 EDT

90 min: That Blades goal knocked the stuffing from Blackburn, who had a couple of chances to win the game and now find themselves under severe pressure. Four minutes added on.

89 min: Bogle on for Baldock as a Sheffield United change.

87 min: The pressure climbing up and up, and Berge sets up Doyle to shoot, but rather lamely.

85 min: All Blades now, with Ndiaye prominent like he was in the opening stages.

82 min: Now Blades fancy this one, to try and get another one, the winner, before full-time.

Goal! Sheffield United 2-2 Blackburn Rovers (McBurnie, 81)

It’s a solo effort, Ollie McBurnie picking up the ball in the area, turning past one, and then perhaps miskicking but scoring at the far post. As solo goals go, that’s scruffy and doesn’t say much for a five-man defence.

McBurnie manoeuvres in the box and scores. Photograph: Darren Staples/AFP/Getty ImagesMcBurnie celebrates after scoring. Photograph: Jan Kruger/Getty Images

Updated at 09.48 EDT

79 min: Berge has been snuffed out in midfield. Rovers make a change, Wharton and Britton on, Hedges and Rankin-Costello off, with Wharton a centre-back. That makes a back five and may give more room to Berge.

77 min: Sheffield United chance, made by McAtee, missed by McBurnie. Billy Sharp thought he should have got the pass.

76 min: Loud roars as Brereton-Diaz hounds down a long hoof down the channels. This is the FA Cup we know and love.

74 min: Ooof. Brereton-Diaz spins and goes and his layoff just misses Gallagher. Another chance to win it passed up.

73 min: Ahmedhodzic goes the length of the field, only to be brought down by a fine tackle. No foul given. The Rovers fans now singing of Wembley.

71 min: Hedges cuts in and smashes the inside of the post. Oof. That would have been the clincher.

69 min: A break in play, and Wes Foderingham is injured. Off goes Jack Robinson, and on comes Billy Sharp, with Foderingham recovered and clapping loudly in encouragement.

67 min: More Joe Pearson: “My turn. Since I’m quite old, my ‘Let It Flow’ reference would have to be Dave Mason.”

66 min: Sheffield United have gone off the boil since the first half ended, some miskicks and the formerly neat play long forgotten. Billy Sharp is coming on soon. Is he still the leading scorer in English football since 2000? Or is that now Harry Kane? Answers on a virtual postcard to…

62 min: Hayden Carter is booked and the FA Cup system means he will miss the semi if Rovers get there. Or he could get a red card and serve three-match EFL ban. We think. Go figure.

Goal! Sheffield United 1-2 Blackburn Rovers (Szmodics, 60)

Blades are caught napping in front of their goal, and Gallagher springs the offside trap by seeing Egan is keeping them onside. The finish is excellent.

Szmodics slots in. Photograph: Anna Gowthorpe/REX/ShutterstockSzmodics celebrates with teammates after scoring. Photograph: Naomi Baker/Getty Images

Updated at 09.27 EDT

58 min: Oh wow, Travis plays in McAtee and a Blades goal seems certain, only for Aynsley Pears to save and bail out his defender by saving with his foot.

McAtee has a shot saved by Pears. Photograph: Nigel French/PA

Updated at 09.31 EDT

56 min: End to end, as McAtee swings fresh air after Ndiaye cuts the ball inside. Off goes Gallagher down the other end, only to commit a foul.

55 min: Berge, skilful yet with the cruising speed of a VW-Beetle, loses the ball. It might not be the ideal game for someone of such stately speed.

53 min: Neither teams seem willing to play for extra-time and penalties just yet. The referee meanwhile seems to keeping wishing to let it flow.

50 min: Wes Foderingham meanwhile makes a pair of fine saves, the second at close range from Ben Brereton-Diaz, after Harry Pickering’s effort from the edge of the box.

48 min: Luke Jones gets in touch: “When Sheffield United scored, they had a player (Egan I think) on his hands and knees on the touchline. There’s something about a player on the floor, raising his head to watch the ball as it spins into the net, that just adds so much drama to a goal. Perfect look for this game.”

“Temur Ketsbaia,” says Steve Wiles. Well that’s a player I’d forgotten. Bald, Georgian and lot of fun if I remember. I could google it but the memory I have is all good so why bother.”

47 min: Baldock arrives late on to a McAtee pass and hits the side-netting.

46 min: The teams take to the field to the tune of Judas Priest’s United, then some more John Denver, as booed by the Rovers fans. Perhaps the musical interlude put off McAtee as Ndiaye put him in to score from close range. The guilty party blames a bobble.

Andy McCulloch gets in touch: “Must be the first time notoriously hedonistic space-rockers Spiritualized have been mentioned in the commentary at 42 minutes? The band’s lysergic single ‘Let It Flow’ lends itself well to the ethos of Nicholson, Cruyff, samba soccer, and Guardiola, et al.”

Perhaps refs need to keep things on the straight and narrow a bit more. You know it’s true.

Tom Stratford gets in touch: “Hi John, if Joe has any further questions on the penalty/yellow card decision I understand José María Enriquez Negreira now offers a bespoke refereeing consultancy service to help with this sort of thing?”

Updated at 08.58 EDT

Half-time: Sheffield United 1-1 Blackburn Rovers

This is what the FA Cup is about. No quarter asked, none given. Both teams wanting to win, neither of them appearing to care about their league position. Two well-matched teams, two odd goals. All to play for…

45 min: Half-time approaches and some well-earned rests. It’s been full-bore stuff, and high-end stuff, too. Rankin-Costello, of Blackburn, is penalised for knocking over Ndiaye. Three minutes added on.

42 min: Men. At it. Ahmedhodzic launches Brereton-Diaz to the floor, and the ref waves play on. As it should be. Let it flow.

41 min: Baldock does well to nod away when the ball was arrowing to Brereton-Diaz, and that sets up another dead-ball examination from Rovers. Ryan Hedges takes, but that’s cleared. With Paul Heckingbottom bellowing instructions.

39 min: These teams are really well-matched. Both team glint with steel but Blades have a bit more verve while Rovers are strong on the set pieces.