Sheffield United look to avoid a cupset as they welcome Bristol City to Bramall Lane in Fifth Round of 2020-21 FA Cup.
Chris Wilder’s Blades are looking to reach the Quarter Finals for a second consecutive season for the first time since achieving that feat in 2002-04 seasons.
Bristol City meanwhile are looking to end a 47 year drought between FA Cup Quarter Final appearances, having last reached the last eight in the 1973-74 season.
Team News
Ethan Ampadu is set to return for Sheffield Utd after missing Sunday’s league defeat to Chelsea through ineligibility, due to terms of his loan deal prohibiting him to face his parent club.
Enda Stevens and Lys Mousset could also feature if can overcome knocks but George Baldock (thigh), Sander Berge (hamstring), Jack Robinson (unspecified) and Jack O’Connell (knee) remain absent.
Bristol City have no fresh injury concerns to report after Saturday’s Championship loss to Cardiff.
Steven Sessegnon, Chris Martin, Cameron Pring, Callum O’Dowda (all hamstring), Tommy Rowe, Andreas Weimann (both knee), Jay Dasilva (shin), Liam Walsh (quad) and Hakeeb Adelakun (back) are ruled out.
Stat Attack
- Sheffield Utd have advanced from all three previous FA Cup ties against Bristol City, despite one tie needing a replay (W3, D1).
- Bristol City have lost both FA Cup trips to Bramall Lane without scoring and conceded five goals in total across those two visits (L2).
- Chris Wilder’s Blades have kept just one clean sheet in their last six FA Cup games, defeating Millwall 2-0 in Fourth Round last season en route to eventual Quarter Final exit.
- Robins’ Famara Diedhiou has scored in his last two FA Cup appearances, with both goals coming in the first half.
- Sheffield Utd has won their last five FA Cup ties against lower league opposition.
Prediction
Sheffield Utd put in a decent performance on Sunday but just lacked the finishing touch to snatch at least a point, yet every performance since the turn of 2021 has represented improvement on the entire of 2020 post lockdown which is a real morale boost.
Bristol City meanwhile seem to have hit a slump with just one win in four games since defeating Millwall to reach this stage, which does make their task slightly tougher given their poor FA Cup record in this fixture.
Injuries though are piling up for Dean Holden’s Robins so I suspect their priority will be on keeping their promotion hopes alive, whereas Sheffield Utd can afford to go for it here despite their own injury issues which might well be the difference.
Prediction: Sheffield United 2-0 Bristol City
Result: Sheffield United 1-0 Bristol City