Billy at the Sharp end to make it sweet 16
ICE-COOL captain Billy Sharp fired Sheffield United into the last 16 of the FA Cup for the first time in three seasons.
The Blades have not progressed past the fourth round since their run to the semi-finals in the 2013-14 season but Sharp’s 80th-minute penalty saw them move into the next round.
Blades boss Chris Wilder said: “It wasn’t a classic game. We just needed to lift our standards and be a bit more aggressive in the second half and drive the game forward a little more.
“I thought the introduction of Ched Evans and Chris Basham gave us a little spark.
“We changed the shape at half-time just to get a bit more control of the football, which I think it did and we just edged a tight game.”
Mark Duffy, who signed a new contract on Friday, was the main creator for the home team.
Either side of half-time, the winger drilled in two low crosses for Clayton Donaldson but the striker found the side-netting both times.
Daniel Lafferty was next to benefit from Duffy’s supply, as he saw a volley tipped over the bar by Declan Rudd before the visitors’ captain, Tom Clarke, brought Sharp down inside the area.
Sharp stepped up and tucked away the spot-kick, sending Rudd the wrong way and North End crashing out.
Preston boss Alex Neil felt the penalty decision could have gone either way.
“I’m disappointed, as you don’t want to lose any game,” he said.
“Having said that, I don’t think there was much in the game at all.
“I think the stats suggest that chances for and chances against are relatively similar.
“I think the disappointing thing is to go out to a contentious penalty.
“Having watched it back about six times it’s still a wee bit inconclusive for me. I’m not 100 per cent sure it was a penalty.
“Having looked back at it from the referee’s position, I think it’s really difficult for him to tell whether he plays the player first or the ball.”