Rocket by Thomas has Mick feeling sick
NATHAN THOMAS’ first-half goal earned Sheffield United a third-round win at Ipswich.
Thomas’ superb long-range effort in the 25th minute which flew into the top corner extended Ipswich’s miserable record in the competition.
The hosts have not won an FA Cup match since January
2010 and did not like ending that run here, failing to record a shot on goal.
Ipswich started brightly and David McGoldrick and Freddie Sears looked a threat.
They also claimed a penalty when the ball seemed to strike the arm of Caolan Lavery but referee Michael Jones was not interested.
Bersant Celina then weaved his way to the edge of the penalty area but his shot was deflected wide.
But the hosts then found themselves behind when Thomas let fly with a wonderful left-footed strike from outside the area that flew into the top-right corner of Bartosz Bialkowksi’s goal.
The visitors now were controlling the tie and in the
38th minute Chris Basham broke free and burst into the area but his shot went wide.
Bialkowski’s goal was threatened again in the 48th minute when Billy Sharp laid the ball off to half-time sub Regan Slater, who fired over.
Sharp and Lavery combined moments later and this time the latter saw his shot cleared off the line.
Lavery had a header punched clear by the busy Bialkowski, while at the other end a cross from Celina found Callum Connolly in the area but his header went just over the bar.
Ipswich boss boss McCarthy said: “I thought we played well until the goal.
“I’m not unhappy with the performance but I am unhappy with the result.
“We had an appeal for a penalty, which could have been given, but I’ve no idea what a penalty is after having seen what happened elsewhere this week.”
Blades boss Chris Wilder said: “I think we had some good chances just after half-time to take the game away from them so we were a bit frustrated that we didn’t.
“But it was a good goal – a cracking strike to win it.”