Match report

Swansea City claimed a famous FA Cup win as the League One side outplayed Sheffield United on the Premiership team's own Bramall Lane ground.

Thomas Butler was the Blades' tormentor scoring two goals and earning the penalty that Leon Britton converted.

First Butler shot home through a crowd after good work from Bayo Akinfenwa, then coolly struck a left-foot second.

A spot in the fourth round was secured when Derek Geary sent Butler crashing to earth in the United penalty area.



Manager Neil Warnock opted to send out a Blades side showing eight changes and was without suspended captain Chris Morgan and striker Rob Hulse.

But Swansea were also without their suspended top scorer Lee Trundle and injured midfield fulcrum Andy Robinson.

Swansea carved out the better early chances and Rory Fallon should have done better with two efforts.

The striker could have given the League One visitors a gilt-edged start after only two minutes, bursting into the Blades penalty area from the right only to shoot straight at Paul Gerrard.

Fallon had a more difficult chance just after the half-hour mark when the ball fell kindly to him on the edge of the area, but in trying to place his shot allowed a routine save.




Gerrard had one other alarm to deal with before the break, back-pedalling frantically as Thomas Butler's free-kick ballooned off the Blades' defensive wall only to land on the roof of the net.

United finally came alive late in the half, with Alan Quinn and full debutant Kevan Hurst both going close.

Quinn blazed a free header just over the crossbar, then Hurst was denied as Swans stopper Willie Gueret came flying off his line to smother the young midfielder's shot.

United continued in the same vein after the break but Hurst could only graze the outside of Gueret's left-hand post after being teed-up by Christian Nade.



That proved costly as Swansea stunned Bramall Lane with three goals in a 14-minute burst.

Butler was at the centre of United's woe, as the Republic of Ireland midfielder grabbed two quick-fire goals and then earned the penalty that Britton converted for a 3-0 scoreline.

The first came on 53 minutes as Kris O'Leary curled an inviting cross into the United area towards Akinfenwa.

The burly striker's persistence saw the ball break to Butler on the left and he fired through a crowd of defenders to give Swansea the lead.

Still reeling from that blow the Blades found themselves two down, as Britton launched a swift counter-attack that found Butler unmarked on the left once more.



The two-cap man took one touch and then buried the ball under the body of Gerrard.

Incredibly Butler was again not tracked as he burst into the Blades area for a third time.

Geary was forced into a despairing lunge to pole-axe Butler and referee Andy D'Urso had no hesitation in awarding a penalty.

Geary had already been booked and was lucky to stay on the pitch, but Britton's calm dink from the spot over the diving Gerrard was reward enough for the Swans.

United put the visitors under severe pressure as they sought a way back into the game, but Quinn was twice denied by first Gueret's agility and then a brave challenge from Izzy Iriekpen.





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Sheff Utd: Gerrard, Geary, Bromby, Sommeil, Armstrong, Kazim-Richards, Montgomery, Alan Quinn, Hurst (Law 62), Webber (Tonge 86), Nade (Stephen Quinn 62).
Subs Not Used: Annerson, Lucketti.

Booked: Geary.

Swansea: Gueret, Amankwaah (Iriekpen 43), Austin, Lawrence, Williams, Britton, O'Leary, Tate, Butler, Akinfenwa, Fallon.
Subs Not Used: Oakes, Watt, Jones, Allen.

Booked: Williams.

Goals: Butler 53, 59, Britton 67 pen.

Att: 15,896.

Ref: A D'Urso (Essex).

Sheff Utd 0-3 Swansea - Colin - Northampton (from Neath)

Probably one of the first back from the game. Amazing. I was at the other end of the ground to the Swans fans and it looked and sounded incredible. You could be clearly heard at the other end boys and girls. Da Iawn. I took photos on my mobi at the end - if they are any good I will try and post them on here. I am going to add the caption "3-0 to the sheepshaggers" and have it as my screensaver in work (I went with my mate from work who is a Blades season ticket holder - I want to make the memory linger for him)

Swans fans - 12 out of 10 - my mate was listing a number of prem teams who brought less. Nice touch from their announcer who applauded our fans at the end of the game.

KJ - tactical genius today- 7-2-1 is a great formation . We even did the damage during the period at the start of the second half. What is going on?

Willy - 8 - not a hell of a lot to do but looked very assured when called upon.

Amankwah - 5 - great gaps down his side first half but they kept passing the ball into touch or ballooning the cross. We were much better when Izzy replaced him at RB

Tommy - 8 - combative, dedicated, talked to Butler a lot when Butler reverted to second fullback. Couple of lovely touches to skin forwards early on. Very good performance marred only by getting himself booked again for losing his rag.

Austin/Lawrence - 7 each - nothing at all with any finesse but very very solid under sustained pressure especially first half.

Butler - 9 - two well taken goals, forced a good save, won the pen and more than all that always attempted to play intelligent football. Gaurded Tommy well too. Will be a travesty if he has not earned a start next time.

Tatey - 7 - did lots of ugly stuff very well. Managed an incredible number of interceptions. Passing today was often wayward.

KOL - 7 - rugged and committed as ever. Linked well with Leon and a good cross to set up first goal. Passing often awful.

Leon B - 9 - MOM(I know this is harsh on Butler) - classiest player on the pitch in the opinion of the Sheff fans around me. Instrumental in all 3 goals (all involved Butler being the spare man on the left after the move had gone down the right). There cannot be a better player in our division. Still sprinting after lost causes in the 89th minute.

Rory - 7 - unless we had a set piece he was in midfield. Worked his socks off. No way is this man lazy. Nothing exceptional with the ball but in a performance where graft was the key, I would suggest he was maybe the leader. Two early chances sent middling at the keeper as if he was scared of putting them wide. I am proud of him compensating for a lack of confidence (and genuine talent?) with such a work ethic.

Bayo - 8 - lone striker and better in that role than Fallon. Worked hard with two men on him and skinned Bromby for pace a couple of times. 2 or 3 excellent takedowns requiring strength and touch.

Izzy - 7 - a lot more solid trhan Amankwah

Andy D'Urso - 9 - not a lot to say about him which is how a ref should be.

Summary - They camped in our half first half but lacked creativity (Warnock had seriosly depleted the side). Bit more even start of second. They had a spell after our first goal but then we got confident and moved out more and started looking the better team for the last half hour. Our commitment to the cause was awesome.