(Football news) In the first game of the competition this year, the Blades easily defeated Gillingham 4-0, while in the third round, the Seagulls defeated Stoke City 4-2 away from home thanks to four goals from their opponents. 

A trip to the FA Cup for League Two playoff contenders Sheffield United had the chance to easily win their biggest game of the season against Gillingham, but Chris Wilder’s team didn’t sit back on January 6 and pushed four goals past their opponents in the fourth division without answering.

Will Osula’s first-half brace preceded a second-half double from James McAtee in the most straightforward of successes for Sheffield United, who will have recent history on their side on Saturday, as they have progressed from each of their last four fourth-round ties in the FA Cup.

Semi-finalists last season and quarter-finalists in 2019-20 and 2020-21, the Blades have reason to believe that another deep cup run is on the cards despite their Premier League predicament, although they avoided defeat in the top flight for just the sixth time this season during the recent visit of West Ham United.

During a heated encounter in which both sides saw one of their own banished from the field of play, an Oli McBurnie spot kick with 103 minutes on the board salvaged a point for Sheffield United in a 2-2 thriller, although the basement-dwelling Blades still have a seven-point disadvantage to 17th-placed Everton.

Furthermore, Wilder’s team are yet to string together a three-game unbeaten run across all competitions in the 2023-24 season, and the last time they played out a 2-2 draw at Bramall Lane – sharing the spoils with Everton on September 2 – Newcastle United subjected them to an eight-goal embarrassment in their following home match.

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