On a weekend when much of the talk has been about poor FA Cup attendances and lack of shocks, QPR and Sheff Utd clash in what has the look of one of the most dire third round games on paper.

Sheffield United (7th) v Queens Park Rangers (10th)
FA Cup
Sunday January 3, Kick Off 3pm
Bramall Lane, Sheffield

There has already been much talk this weekend about the poor crowds at certain FA Cup ties – Middlesbrough and Wigan were probably the worst offenders this weekend as they struggled to muster 15,000 people between them for their games with Man City and Hull. It is very easy to trot out the time honoured lines about the FA Cup being special and “when I was a lad it was the only game you would get on the television and everybody wanted to play in the final” blah blah blah but few people actually mention the practicalities of it.

The fact is FA Cup games do not count on a season ticket, they are played straight after Christmas when as well as shelling out on all the usual festive food and gifts your team will have already played three or four games in very quick succession and the weather is terrible. Don’t talk to QPR fans about romance when they have to battle through snow bound roads on a Sunday to come to Sheffield for a game we will in all likelihood lose. The simple answer is include cup matches as part of the season ticket but then the FA (bless em) set minimum ticket prices for each round of the competition so that probably couldn’t happen anyway.

The folly of forcing clubs to charge a certain amount for these games, even if it is the relatively low prices we face at Bramall Lane this Sunday, will be shown in Sheffield over the course of two days this weekend. Wednesday got barely 8,000 in a ground built for 42,000 on Saturday for the visit of Palace and I’d be surprised if this fixture even brought that many through the gates. Sheffield United are dire to watch even at the best of times while QPR are in poor form and of course both managers will have their eyes on the league rather than this competition.

It’s that non-sensical focus on league positions over cups that has further turned people off this great competition. Why people would prefer to see their team finish fourth in the Premiership, stay up or push for the play offs ahead of a potential Wembley trip is beyond me. What are Portsmouth fans going to tell their grand children about when you’re older, the day they saw Pompey win the FA Cup or the day they stayed up on the last day of the season at Wigan? This game should be all about cups and medals and Barnsley, Cardiff, Sheff Utd, Tranmere and Millwall have all shown that the two domestic finals are eminently reachable for clubs of our level now the big boys don’t take them quite so seriously.

This is, lets be fair, a dire draw for us in every possible way. But we’re capable of troubling teams in this league, or at least we were until we started to implode again, and I’d really like to see QPR come out and openly go for one of the cup competitions one of these years and hopefully that can start later today. I mean it’s been eight years since we won a game in the FA Cup for goodness sake, we’ve got to put a stop to that sooner or later.

With our last game against Sheffield United, in which they wasted time from the 30th minute onwards, still fresh in the mind and another league encounter to come in just a few weeks you’ll forgive, or perhaps you won’t, a little cut and paste action in this weekend’s match preview. Happy New Year to you all and a safe trip to everybody heading north for this game, the snow fall on Sunday has left the city’s road’s treacherous so do be careful.

Five minutes on Sheff Utd
Recent history: Sheffield United are starting to mount a fair recovery from a poor start to the season no doubt triggered by LFW’s pre-season assertion that they would be champions this season. The kiss of death as always. In fairness I would say an enormous injury list had more to do with their poor form than anything I have written on here and it is only now, as they are starting to get players back into the fold, that they are starting to pick up the results I though they would in pre-season. A last second 3-2 win at fellow play off chasers Bristol City signalled a new found confidence and belief as well as big intentions for the second half of the season.

We all know about this big injury list because manager Kevin Blackwell told us all about it every single chance he got. Fair enough it is a bit tough to be without six or seven of your starting eleven at any one time but it is the moaning and bleating that has become a bit of a mark of Sheffield United in recent times. Promoted to the Premiership in 2006 after 12 years in this division they were relegated back at the first attempt through nobody’s fault but their own. Neil Warnock’s men initially acquitted themselves very well. Victories against Arsenal, Wigan, Charlton and Watford through November and December lifted them up to 15th in the table and although form dipped after Christmas Tottenham and West Ham were both beaten at Bramall Lane and United looked to have done enough.

The problem was it appeared that they thought so too. Neil Warnock infamously claimed West Ham would be all but down if they lost to his team, which they promptly did 3-0 and stayed up anyway at their expense. United often went into games, particularly away from home, with just Christian Nade up front and, with all due respect, they’d have been better planting a tree in the middle of the opposition’s defensive third. They could have sealed their survival at Aston Villa in the penultimate game of the season - Villa had absolutely nothing to play for and their form hinted that the cue had been on the rack for quite some time. Again they went with one up front and lost the game 3-0.

If they could have picked an opponent for their finaal match of the season when even a point would have been good enough for them to survive then Wigan Athletic probably would have been the choice, especially as United had won at the JJB Stadium earlier in the season. They lost and were relegated. Of course while all this was going on the Carlos Tevez saga at West Ham was rumbling on. United had publicly shown little interest int his initiailly while Wigan and Fulham bleated on about how terribly unfair it all was but when suddenly it was clear that United were to be the ones to suffer most from the Premiership’s farcical handling of an obviously dodgy transfer you couldn’t pick up a paper for moans and groans from South Yorkshire. I mean you could point out that had Sheffield United not missed so many penalties during the season, including two in a game with Blackburn at home, then West Ham coul;d have had who they liked playing for them it would not have mattered. Instead West Ham’s cheating, sides fielding weakened teams against West Ham and Fulham and just the general unfairness of it all got the blame rather than the Blades looking a little closer to home.

Anyway Warnock skulked off because he felt that he was now a Premiership manager and eventually pitched up at the very much Championship Crystal Palace. He was replace,d quite hilariously, by Bryan Robson who squandered a big transfer budget on the likes of Billy Sharp and looked a pretty decent bet to continue his record of relegating every single team he has ever managed prior to being relieved of his duties halfway through his first season. It says much for just how incompetent Robson relaly is that Kevin Blackwell, not exactly a tactical genius himself, was able to sweep in and guide much the same group of players from the bottom quarter of the league to the cusp of the play off zone. Had United done the sensible thing and outed Robson earlier, or not appointed the sour faced twat in the first place, then they may well have made the top six. Ultimately the season finished a game or two early for them.

They were widely tipped to just continue in that vein last season and while they did indeed reach the play off final they were a pretty dour team to watch and were beaten far more comfortably than the 1-0 scoreline suggests in the final against Burnley at Wembley. At Leeds and Luton Blackwell’s preferred style of play was certainly direct, but at Sheffield United the long ball football played is remoreseless. Their games against Newcastle and Barnsley were absolutely brutal, and I felt like I’d been through an ordeal by the time they reached full time. The ball was barely a concern during what can only be described as 180 minutes of open warfare.

Blackwell was starting to come under som pressure aorund that time as United went eight games without a win but they arrive at Loftus Road having shot up the table on a run of six games without defeat. They may yet be able to make an impact at the top of the table come May and if they do, it will once again show the value of sticking with a manager through slight losses of form and confidence.

The Manager: Having seen Leeds United fall apart around his ears and then Luton Town as well Kevin Blackwell must have started to think he was cursed. Harshly sacked from both clubs while doing a reasonable job in trying circumstances he landed on his feet at a reasonably secure club with a decent playing squad when he succeeded Bryan Robson as Blades boss midway through the 2007/08 campaign. Following Robson is always a good thing to do because however incompetent you are, you’re never going to be that incompetent but I would say Blackwell has underachieved so far.

Blackwell was a goalkeeper in his playing days, and an assistant to Neil Warnock when he cut his coaching teeth, so the style of play his team’s employ is understandable. Brian Howard decamped to Reading after barely six months at Bramall Lane bemoning the style of play and smaller strikers like Billy Sharp and Ched Evans have scored freely for the likes of Norwich and Doncaster in this division while struggling in the remorsleesly direct atmosphere of Blackwell’s team. They are thoroughly horrible to watch.

Sheff Utd last year were tough, uncompromising, nasty at times, and very difficult to beat but were also pretty uninspiring and completely outplayed by Burnley at Wembley in the play off final - the second time in his career Blackwell has lost a Championship play off final. His post match hissy fit seemed to set the scene for a walk out and I would say he is unlikely to be around this time next year if United fail in their quest to return to the Premiership for a third time. Parachute payments end this summer and the going will only get tougher if they cannot get up this season.

Three to Watch: Although United are undoubtedly one of the most physical sides in this league at Loftus Road a couple of weeks ago it was two of their smaller players who really caught the eye - Stephen Quinn and Jamie Ward.

Stephen, a box to box midfield player, is the younger more ginger brother of Ipswich Town midfielder Alan Quinn who has had spells with both Sheffield clubs before moving to Portman Road. Although only 23 he has made more than 100 appearances for the Blades and he leads the midfield up and down the field like a grizzled veteran – showing excellent positional discipline and work rate. He is also never far away from the referee and in previous seasons has served nothing more than nuisance value in games against us but I was very impressed by the work he did at Loftus Road. Along with Nick Montgomery sitting in front of the back four it is an awkward proposition for anybody, and it’s a far more committed and physical prospect than anything we can offer across the middle of the park.

Smaller even than Quinn, who’s barely 5ft 6ins himself, is striker Jamie Ward. He is in bad books at Bramall Lane at the moment for seeking a pay rise on a contract signed under a year ago. In his defence he has settled in well and impressed at this division since moving from Chesterfield in the January transfer window last year. I’m amazed he has done so well, because the smaller players have often struggled under Blackwell at United, but he buzzes around the likes of Henderson and Cresswell to great effect and looks like a real find. The value of good scouting over favoured agents and sporting directors shines through again.

Somebody who has not enjoyed the same success at Bramall Lane is Ched Evans. He was signed for £3m from Man City in the summer and looked terrific in this league in a terrible Norwich side the season before last. He’s a player I really wanted to see at QPR in the summer but he has struggled for form since moving to the Blades with just three goals in 22 appearances. He may yet hit form, but if he doesn’t don’t write him off yet – Blackwell’s style of play is uniquely direct and physical and some players just don’t suit it. Observe Billy Sharp’s incredible form since moving to the more flowing and easy on the eye style of Doncaster on loan.

Links >>> Sheff Utd Official Website >>> Sheff Utd Message Board >>> Travel Guide

History
Recent Meetings:
Paul Hart started life as QPR manager with a dire draw against Sheffield United at Loftus Road just before Christmas. Mikele Leigertwood gave Hart the best possible start to life in the Rangers’ dugout with a goal against his former club inside the opening minute but Ben Watson’s wayward back pass allowed Halford to set up Cresswell for an equaliser soon afterwards. Although Watson went close to winning the game with a header against the bar in stoppage time a draw always looked the favourite result with United happy to remorselessly waste time for every time the ball went out of play for the final hour of the game.

QPR: Cerny 6, Ramage 5, Stewart 6, Gorkss 7, Williams 7, Routledge 6, Leigertwood 6, Watson 5, Simpson 5 (Vine 68, 3), Taarabt 6, Agyemang 6
Subs Not Used: Taylor, Hall, Pellicori, Faurlin, Balanta, Parker
Booked: Stewart (foul)
Goals: Leigertwood 2 (unassisted)

Sheff Utd: Bunn 6, Stewart 7, Kilgallon 7, Morgan 7, Walker 7, Montgomery 7, Quinn 8, Kallio 6, Harper 6, Cresswell 6, Ward 7
Subs Not Used: Bennett, France, Evans, Reid, Little, Geary, Camara.
Booked: Morgan (foul), Bunn (time wasting)
Goals: Cresswell 8 (assisted Halford)

Early season optimism brought on by two wins in the first week was quickly shattered at Bramall Lane on the second Saturday of last season. Looking back a midfield of Parejo, Ledesma, Cook and Leigertwood was always going to lack a little oomph and physical presence and so it proved as the Blades cut QPR apart. Billy Sharp scored all three goals, two in the first quarter of an hour and then one just after half time when Cerny came for a corner and missed it completely.

Sheff Utd: Kenny 7, Halford 7 (Cotterill 66, 7), Naysmith 7, Morgan 6 (Ehiogu 34, 7), Kilgallon 7, Jihai 8, Speed 8, Tonge 7, Quinn 7, Sharp 9 (Webber 83, -), Henderson 8
Subs Not Used: Stead, Spring
Booked: Halford (foul)
Goals: Sharp 3 (assisted Halford/Henderson), 13 (assisted Speed), 51 (assisted Tonge)

QPR: Cerny 3 Delaney 4, Hall 3, Gorkss 3 Connolly 4, Leigertwood 4, Parejo 5, Cook 4 (Alberti 80, -), Ledesma 5, Balanta 3 (Di Carmine 46 5), Blackstock 3
Subs Not Used: Camp, Stewart, Mahon
Booked: Delaney (reacting to Halford’s foul)

Head to Head
Sheff Utd Wins – 13
Draws – 17
QPR wins – 15

Previous Sheff Utd v QPR results:
2009/10 QPR 1 Sheff Utd 1 (Leigertwood)
2008/09 QPR 0 Sheff Utd 0
2008/09 Sheff Utd 3 QPR 0
2007/08 QPR 1 Sheff Utd 1 (Balanta)
2007/08 Sheff Utd 2 QPR 1 (Agyemang)
2005/06 Sheff Utd 2 QPR 3 (Nygaard, Morgan og, Furlong)
2005/06 QPR 2 Sheff Utd 1 (Bircham, Moore)
2004/05 Sheff Utd 3 QPR 2 (Rowlands, Gallen)
2004/05 QPR 0 Sheff Utd 1
2003/04 Sheff Utd 0 QPR 2 (Rowlands 2)
2000/01 QPR 1 Sheff Utd 3 (Ngonge)
2000/01 Sheff Utd 1 QPR 1 (Koejoe)
1999/00 Sheff Utd 1 QPR 1 (Beck)
1999/00 QPR 3 Sheff Utd 1 (Breaker, Wardley, Steiner)
1998/99 Sheff Utd 2 QPR 0
1998/99 QPR 1 Sheff Utd 2 (Peacock pen)
1997/98 QPR 2 Sheff Utd 2 (Sheron, Ready)
1997/98 Sheff Utd 2 QPR 2 (Murray, Morrow)
1996/07 QPR 1 Sheff Utd 0 (Spencer pen)
1996/97 Sheff Utd 1 QPR 1 (Slade)
1993/94 Sheff Utd 1 QPR 1 (Barker)
1993/94 QPR 2 Sheff Utd 1 (Wilson pen, Sinclair)
1992/93 Sheff Utd 1 QPR 2 (Allen, Holloway)
1992/93 QPR 3 Sheff Utd 2 (Ferdinand, Barker, Bailey)
1991/92 Sheff Utd 0 QPR 0
1991/92 QPR 1 Sheff Utd 0 (Wegerle)

Links >>> Sheff Utd 3 QPR 0 Match Report >>> QPR 1 Sheff Utd 1 Match Report >>> Match Report Archive >>> Connections and Memories

This Saturday
Team News: There has been a fair bit of movement among QPR’s loan contingent this week. Tommy Williams and Ben Watson have gone back to Peterborough and Wigan respectively meaning likely starts for Gary Borrowdale and Alejandro Faurlin. Heidar Helguson and Hogan Ephraim have come back to us from Watford and Leeds but only the latter is likely to be involved with Helguson set for a permanent departure this month. Lee Cook, Martin Rowlands and Gavin Mahon (all knee) are long term absentees but Matt Connolly is ft again.

Sheff Utd have completed the signing of Plymouth defender Marcel Seip on loan to cover for the expected departure of Matt Kilgallon this month and he is in the squad. Key man Darius Henderson missed the first meeting between these sides three weeks ago and is likely to do so again – Kyle Walker’s injury means Derek Geary and Jordan Stewart are likely to continue in defence.

Elsewhere: Well the draw looked fairly uninspiring when it was made and sure enough there has yet to be a real upset of any note and bottom of the Premiership Portsmouth’s draw at home to Coventry was the headline on Sports Report at 5pm on Saturday. Reading’s draw with Liverpool is about as good as it has got so far but there may be a vulnerable Premiership team in action on Sunday when Wolves go to Tranmere – bearing in mind Mick McCarthy’s recent team selections in the Premiership I would think he is likely to field a seriously weakened side for that perhaps opening the door for perennial giant killers Tranmere to take advantage. Perhaps the greatest upset is still to come with top of League One Leeds going to Man Utd at lunch time on Sunday.

Referee: As if travelling up to snow bound Sheffield for a cup match we will probably lose on a Sunday straight after New Year wasn’t bad enough, the thought of Andy Hall refereeing the match if and when you get there just about puts the tin hat on it all. Hall has a terrible record with QPR, booking three times as many of our players as opponents in 13 matches and awarding red cards and penalties against us with alarming frequency. More details at the link below.

Links >>> Dean Sturridge Memorial Injury List >>> Arthur Gnohere Discipline Counter >>> Worst possible refereeing appointment >>> Referee League

Form
Sheff Utd: Kevin Blackwell looked to be in some difficulty earlier this season when a run of eight games without a win left them languishing in the bottom half of the table after being many people’s pre-season tip for promotion. However the board kept faith and he has repaid them with an impressive run that has coincided with a return to fitness for several key players. United are now seventh in the league, up from 14th, having lost just one of their last nine and won five of their last eight. The Blades have not lost to QPR since the memorable 3-2 win at Bramall Lane under Gary Waddock, five games and three seasons ago. United won the only previous FA Cup meeting between these sides 1-0 at Loftus Road in the fourth round in 1923.

QPR: Paul Hart said the football club needed a win when they scrambled a 2-1 success against Bristol City on Boxing Day, but that remains the only success in eight games for the R’s and the value and bundling a win by finishing with a 6-3-1 formation was shown immediately when the R’s were taken apart at Ipswich 3-0 last time out. Rangers have won four away games in the league which is one more than they managed in the whole of last season but they have lost three of their last four conceding ten goals in the process. QPR have not been further than the third round since 2001 and have lost at the first possible opportunity in this competition for the last eight seasons, three after replays.

Prediction: Well it would be easy to predict defeat here because QPR looked so low on confidence at Ipswich last week it’s hard to believe they can just suddenly pick things up and turn it around, especially against tough opponents on their own patch. However I’d expect a low crowd and poor atmosphere that could play into our hands, I would also expect hart to have spent most of the week at training working on the defence and organisation, and I also think neither manager would really appreciate a replay so that’s what is likely.
Draw and a replay

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