PREVIEW: United at Bramall Lane in the Carabao

Away day in the first round of this season's competition

10 August 2021

As the highest ranked team in the competition, it couldn't have got any tougher in terms of opposition for United at this early first-round stage.

The Blades kicked off life in the Championship on Saturday with a home defeat at the hands of Birmingham City.

The visitors scored with their first shot on target on the night, and they defended well to make it a harsh introduction to the new level of football for the hosts.

opposition

One of the biggest tasks for newly-appointed Sheffield United manager Slavisa Jokanovic through the summer was to keep the squad together following their relegation from the top-flight.

The former Watford and Fulham boss succeeded Chris Wilder in the Bramall Lane hotseat and was greeted with the immediate news that keeper Aaron Ramsdale and Norwegian midfielder Sander Berge were rumoured to be targets for Premier League clubs.

The 52-year-old Serb had taken both of his previous teams to promotion from the Championship and inherited a squad that includes former Liverpool prospect Rhian Brewster, who moved to Sheffield in October 2020 for a club record deal worth a reported total of £23.5m.

Phil Jagielka and John Lundstram departed when their contracts ended and Alan Knill, former assistant to Wilder, also left the building a fortnight ago when an agreement was reached by mutual consent.

who watch

Far too many to choose from to pick just one, so we're taking a punt on it being a strong side and a very difficult test for the Cumbrians.

This game is not available to watch on our iFollow streaming service due to competition restrictions.

Click HERE to purchase an audio match pass.

With match commentary provided by BBC Radio Cumbria, this is a fantastic way to follow your team through this season.

Click HERE for more information on this season's iFollow coverage.

highlights

	Carlisle wins	Draws	Sheff Utd wins
League	8	5	11
FA Cup	1	0	1
Total	9	5	12

Our last meeting with the Blades was in March 2014 at Bramall Lane. The Blues created numerous chances, with Lee Miller and James Berrett going close, but a strike on 28 minutes from Jose Baxter was enough to secure the home win.

Watch the highlights from that game here:

The trip up to Brunton Park that season was another tight affair with both teams creating chances through the 90 minutes. Carlisle edged the encounter with a solitary strike from Matt Robson.

Watch the highlights from that game here:

officials

Referee - James Oldham
Assistant Referee - Daniel Woodward
Assistant Referee - Anthony Da Costa
Fourth Official - Andrew Kitchen
Observer - Gary Kellett

Our referee for this fixture is Mr James Oldham.

We saw James at Walsall in January 2021 where goals from Omari Patrick and Josh Kayode secured a 2-0 away win, with the game being completed just in the nick of time as snow started to fall. Aaron Hayden, Jack Armer and Taylor Charters were booked for the Blues.

Mr Oldham was in charge of our home game against Walsall in January 2020. Byron Webster, Stefan Scougall and Mike Jones had their names taken with no goals bagged.

He was at Brunton Park for his first ever Football League game as the man in the middle for our 2019/20 season opener against Crawley Town. Harry McKirdy and Stefan Scougall scored in the first half, either side of a net bulger from Beryly Lubula, and that was it for the goals as United claimed a 2-1 win. Byron Wesbter went in the book for the home side and Lewis Young was sent off late in the day for the Red Devils.

We saw Mr Oldham again for our first-round Emirates FA Cup meeting with Dulwich Hamlet in November 2019. Olufela Olomola, Harry McKirdy (2) and Mike Jones bagged for the Blues, and Byron Webster and Ryan Loft had their names taken as Carlisle recorded a 4-1 victory.

Mr Oldham ended his time as an official with the National League at Wembley with the play-off final between Salford City and AFC Fylde in May 2019.

tickets

Adult	£15
Senior (60+)	£10
Young adults (18-21)	£10
Student (with valid NUS)	£10
Junior (17 and under)	£5

Tickets will NOT be available from Sheffield United on the night of the game - you MUST purchase in advance from our ticket office.

Automated turnstiles are in operation throughout the stadium - to minimise queuing, supporters should have their tickets ready as they approach the turnstiles and insert the barcode into the reader.

There is a limited amount of disabled parking available - please contact Jon Helliwell on 07811 304 005 for more information.

Dates of sale

Date	Time
Mon 9 Aug	10am – 5pm

Methods of purchase:

In person – come to the main ticket office in the Pioneer Stand at the designated time. Ticket sales on home match days will be from the West Stand ticket office.

Phone – ring the ticket office on 0330 094 5930 at the designated times and pay with a credit / debit card - collection only, tickets cannot now be posted.

Internet – click HERE and follow the online instructions.

Match Reports

MATCH REPORT: Blades 1 - 0 United

Carabao Cup round one action

10 August 2021

The first away trip of the 2021/22 campaign took United to Bramall Lane to face the top-seeded side in round one of this season's Carabao Cup competition.

The team had a real Cumbrian feel to it with Lewis Bell and Josh Dixon making their first starts for the club, and with Taylor Charters also amongst the midfield ranks.

Keeper Lukas Jensen, on-loan from Burnley for the season, made his debut, with Manny Mampala another to get his first starting nod.

United won an early corner when a throw from Tanner was put behind to safety. Guy whipped it in but Verrips gathered comfortably as it was nodded high.

But there was a great chance for the Blades when a ball through the back line brought Sharp into the equation. He took a touch, but Jensen was out smartly to make an excellent block.

More work came for the keeper from the corner when Lopata got on the end of the outswinger. A thundering header was going in until the rooted stopper got his hands in the way.

It was a good spell for the home side and Freeman dropped a shoulder to put a ball at the near post from out wide. Smith moved off his marker but the close-range header was wayward.

The Blues were on the move in response when Bell robbed possession on the halfway line. Dixon took over, and he slid a pass through for Toure to overlap. He checked back as he reached the edge of the box and Basham rolled across at pace to make the tackle.

Trickery from Bogle earned a free kick tight by the corner flag and Freeman's pinpoint delivery was put behind for a corner by some attentive defending. Lopata was on the end of that one but he couldn't keep his connection down.

The big former-Brighton defender was a constant threat and he was forward for a free kick from deep when Brewster was felled by Feeney. He nodded it across the face of goal but Sharp lost his footing and could only watch as it bounced agonisingly past him, when all it needed was a touch.

A measured attack was sparked by the Blues when Guy showed good strength in his own half to win the ball back from Freeman. Charters and Toure pounced, with the former setting off on a run. It eventually came back to Toure, who dropped a shoulder, but his 19-yard effort was blocked.

United were undone on 24 minutes when Sharp beat the offside trap once again to get on the end of a ball over the top. A fierce 16-yard volley was parried by Jensen but he could do nothing as the Blades club record signing Rhian Brewster followed up to smash it into the waiting net.

Carlisle were almost back on terms on 32 minutes when Dixon was upended 30-yards out. Guy ripped a beauty of a free kick towards the back stick but Feeney looked on in desperation as it skipped just in front of his toe when he shook off his marker.

Good anticipation from Feeney in his own box prevented a tap-in for Sharp when he scampered quickly to cut out a cross from Freeman late in the half.

Guy let one fly at the other end, as the tempo of the game stayed high, but it clipped Lopata and bent away from the nets.

And Brewster had the same outcome for the Blades when a messy piece of play ended up with an unexpected opening. His effort came off Dixon and dipped over the bar.

United were a whisker away on 49 minutes when Mampala contested a miscued clearance from Basham. It was dinked towards Toure and a flick off the outside of his right boot edged just past the upright.

The Cumbrians were close again when a breakout was masterminded by Guy when he stole across in front of his own area. He had the ball at his feet, and Bell showed for it inside his own half. A powerful run was followed by a crunching pass which Mampala took in his stride. He feinted, then shot, but Verrips dived low to parry it.

Sheffield showed as a force moments later when Smith rode a challenge in the centre circle, with Brewster in close attendance. The pass forced the front man out wide and he blazed a poor attempt over the bar.

There were loud appeals for at least a free kick from the visiting contingent when Dixon was dumped to the ground on the 18-yard line, but the referee waved the shouts away after a short period of reflection.

A move which saw the ball go from right to left and back again gave Bogle an opportunity to deliver for the hosts. He found a good angle but it skipped up and McBurnie could only head it into the side netting.

Riley was needed to clear at the far post when Bogle popped a looped pass towards Lopata, and Jensen dealt with the recovery as Bogle once again tried to find a striped shirt.

Substitute Brennan Dickenson impressed the away fans with neat chest control from a raking Feeney pass just after he'd come on, and the cross that followed had Basham worried when it screwed off his toe. Verrips helped out with calm hands.

Chances dried up as the ball stayed in midfield but Mampala had a go when he wriggled into space after Abrahams had flicked it on. It lacked power and the keeper was well placed to cope.

An underhit back pass from Bogle had Abrahams really interested with 10 minutes left to play but his attempt at a drag back allowed Basham to clean up the mess.

There was a superb opening for Mampala moments later when a huge throw from Riley pinged around inside the box. The big forward stepped back and hit it at full throttle but it whistled just over the target.

And the Cumbrians thought they were going to be rewarded for their efforts when Dickenson beat his man with just one minute left to play. Abrahams timed his run expertly, but his header on the jump came off his shoulder and sped an inch too high.

The Blue Army behind the goal were willing the ball to go in when Toure was tugged by Norrington-Davies in time added on. Dickenson looked to find the sweet spot with the free kick but it had too much on it and the moment was gone.

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Goals

Sheffield United - Brewster (24)

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Bookings

Sheffield United - Jebbison (90), Norrington-Davies (90)

Carlisle United - Armer (77)

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Teams

Sheffield United - Verrips, Basham, Brewster, Sharp (c) (McBurnie 46), Freeman, Bogle, Brunt, Smith (Jebbison 65), Norrington-Davies, Gordon (Norwood 65), Lopata. Subs - Baldock, Lowe, Foderingham, Osborn.

Carlisle United - Jensen, Tanner, Feeney, Armer, Dixon (Dickenson 63), Riley, Guy (c), Bell (Abrahams 72), Charters (Mellish 63), Toure, Mampala. Subs - Norman (gk), McDonald, Alessandra, Whelan.

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Match officials

Referee - James Oldham
Assistant Referee - Daniel Woodward
Assistant Referee - Anthony Da Costa
Fourth Official - Andrew Kitchen
Observer - Gary Kellett

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Attendance - 6,778 (524 away fans)