Blades tu r n to S h ar p shooter
VETERAN BILLY TO RESCUE AS RHIAN MISFIRES
THAT’S HOW YOU DO IT United striker Billy Sharp stays cool and scores the second
IF Rhian Brewster wants inspiration as he hunts for his first Sheffield United goal he need look no further than Billy Sharp.
Veteran striker Sharp is the gift that keeps giving for the Blades and their boss Chris Wilder.
Sharp, 35 next month, isn’t flash and can’t boast any medals won in the top flight.
And while £24million former Liverpool striker Brewster struggles, Sharp – in his second spell at the club – rarely lets his side down even if his starts are
NO WAY BACK Camara scores a consolation goal for Argyle few and far between these days.
These are tough times at Bramall Lane, with the Premier League a dark and foreboding place for Wilder.
But in Sharp, Wilder has a striker who has been round the block and, unlike Brewster, knows how to find the net.
Sharp’s third goal in nine games this season earned victory over a brave and energetic Plymouth side.
And it gave the Blades a place in the FA Cup fifth round for a second season running, with another home tie with Bristol City on the horizon.
Sharp’s winning goal not
long after half-time was expertly taken, collecting Ollie Norwood’s pass before rounding keeper Michael Cooper and firing home.
It averted a potential banana skin for Wilder in a season where little has gone right.
But Ryan Lowe’s plucky League One side made this a contest right to the end after impressive midfielder Panutche Camara pulled a goal back.
Yet what of Brewster? His decision to leave Anfield for South Yorkshire has backfired, with the 20-year-old without a goal in 16 games this season.
Wilder had high hopes for the England Under-21 star, but in a difficult campaign unsuited to developing young talents Brewster is having a hard time.
Still, Wilder was happy enough with a third win in four games – even if two of those have been in the cup against League One opponents.
Wilder said:
“It was job done.
Although it’s a win we need to put it in perspective.
“But there’s no downside in players playing well and winning. The opportunity to win games in the Premier League is tough, so when you play cup games it opens up and we took our chance today.”
Argyle boss Lowe said: “We showed character because they are a good team who press well and keep the ball in the right areas.
“It would have been nice to score the chance we had in the first half and, although a club like ours is never going to win the FA Cup, it was a great experience and to push them all the way was good.
“I think we have done ourselves proud.”
Plymouth should have taken the lead too but Camara missed the target after 24 minutes with the goal beckoning.
United were left baffled by a VAR decision not to award a penalty after Kelland Watts handled Ethan Ampadu’s shot.
The Blades did take the lead though six minutes before the break, with Sharp’s nicelyweighted cross headed home by Chris Basham.
Sharp’s goal gave Argyle a huge obstacle to overcome but they never gave up and Camara – surely a target for bigger clubs – squeezed his 75th minute shot under Aaron
Ramsdale.
A club like ours is never going to win the FA Cup, but it was still a great experience. To push them all the way was good