Sheffield blues for Wilkinson

Sheffield United - 2 Sunderland - 0:ENGLISH LEAGUE CUP/Fourth Round: Sheffield United ended a 30-year hoodoo and ruined Sunderland manager Howard Wilkinson's homecoming. Early second-half goals from Shaun Murphy and Wayne Allison in the space of four minutes sent United into the fifth round for the first time since 1972.

For former Sheffield Wednesday manager Wilkinson, it was his first defeat at Bramall Lane in his long managerial career as he paid the price for fielding an under-strength side. He rested nine of the team which had been on duty in Saturday's 3-0 defeat to Chelsea, with only goalkeeper Jurgen Macho and midfielder Gavin McCann surviving the cull.

Blades manager Neil Warnock, who will undoubtedly revel in such a victory given Wilkinson's allegiances, was expecting Sunderland to field their strongest side with a trophy and a European place up for grabs.

But with Sunderland taking just one point from their last three Premiership games, to drop back into the bottom three, it is clear Wilkinson's priorities centre on survival.

United's initial chance of the game in the 11th minute proved to be their best of a closely-fought first half as a Michael Tonge whipped-in free-kick behind the Sunderland defence caught the visitors napping.

In springing the offside trap, Murphy was presented with a gift opening, but his attempted stab from inside the six-yard box slipped a yard wide.

In truth, Sunderland wasted the more clear-cut opportunities with Michael Proctor dragging an angled 12-yard shot wide after Paddy Kenny had initially saved a raking 22-yard drive from Kevin Kyle.

Eight minutes after the restart United took the lead courtesy of a scrambled effort from Murphy. Phil Jagielka's deep right-wing cross had Macho backtracking, forcing Stanislav Varga into a panicky, overhead clearance under pressure from Wayne Allison. The ball smacked the underside of the bar, and from a yard out Murphy was then on hand to knock home.

United then clinched their place in the fifth round in the 56th minute as a quick Stuart McCall free-kick was knocked out to Peter Ndlovu who curled in a delightful cross for Allison to head home his sixth goal of the season.

SHEFFIELD UTD: Kenny, Jagielka, Murphy, Page, Harley, Ndlovu (Kozluk 90), Brown, McCall, Tonge, Asaba (Peschisolido 84), Allison. Subs Not Used: Montgomery, Ten Heuvel, McGovern. Booked: Ndlovu. Goals: Murphy 54, Allison 56.

SUNDERLAND: Macho, Rossiter, Thome, Varga, McCartney, Proctor, Williams, McCann, Bellion, Kyle (Schwarz 65), Stewart. Subs Not Used: Clark, Medina, Dickman, Turns. Booked: McCartney.

Referee: A Wiley (Staffordshire)