Sunderland squeeze through

Sunderland...1 Sheffield United...0:  Shedding 16 players all earning in excess of a million pound a year may not seem like a conventional formula for success but it appears to have worked wonders for Sunderland, whose extraordinary rebirth was emphasised by yesterday's passage into the semi-finals.

Once that cull was completed last summer, many pundits confidently predicted a second successive relegation but instead Mick McCarthy's team, which includes Jason McAteer, Gary Breen and Phil Babb, all of whom played under him for the Republic of Ireland, are not only threatening a return to the Premiership but now have a Cardiff Cup final date in their sights.

They have reached the last four with a team mainly comprising previously overlooked reserves along with other clubs' cast-offs. It was a man from the latter camp who claimed the winner against Sheffield United.

Informed he was surplus to Watford's requirements last summer, Tommy Smith - who coincidentally helped the Hertfordshire side into last season's semi-finals - finally secured a September move to Wearside. But that was only on a contract until the end of this season and on the understanding he was a "squaddie" who could expect first-team outings to be rationed.

Since then Smith, quick and clever throughout here, has proved something of a Cup specialist, scoring in the fourth-round victory at Ipswich and coming off the bench to claim both Sunderland's goals in the replay win at Birmingham.

Even so, McCarthy deliberated whether to start Smith or the more experienced Marcus Stewart alongside Kevin Kyle.

His decision was vindicated as early as the 15th minute. Until then only Sunderland's superior pace had separated the sides and it was a typically rapid break down the left which led to George McCartney supplying Smith, around 18 yards out and in an inviting crossing position.

Having steadied himself by taking a touch with his right foot the striker momentarily looked about to centre before adroitly transferring the ball to his left foot and striking it across Paddy Kenny and into the far corner.

"Tommy's improved considerably since coming here," reflected McCarthy, who nevertheless refrained from eulogising about him afterwards.

Smith's father is a fanatical Newcastle supporter but his paternal pride surely rendered him deaf to the choruses of "Shearer, Shearer what's the score?" and "Stand up if you hate Shearer," from Sunderland fans taunting Newcastle's captain, seated in the Sky commentary box.

Those fans enjoyed an earlier treat when Ruud Gullit told a Sunday tabloid that Shearer was not only a "rotten apple" but "the most overrated man in football." In contrast McCarthy claims Kyle is underrated but Sunderland's centre-forward was easily restrained by the impressive Chris Morgan.

As Neil Warnock reflected: "Tommy Smith came up with a great goal but it was the one moment of quality and Paddy Kenny didn't really have anything much else to deal with." Phil Jagielka, United's right back, kept Julio Arca, who sustained medial knee ligament damage late on and may miss several games, uncommonly quiet but such individual truimphs could not mask United's weaknesses further forward.

Menacing almost solely from dead-balls, invariably delivered by Michael Tonge, United side were swiftly debilitated by injuries. First Ashley Ward was hurt and replaced by Wayne Allison early on and at the interval Warnock had to use up his complement of substitutes when he withdrew Stuart McCall and Andy Parkinson.

On came Alan Wright and Paul Peschisolido, the latter's acceleration finally fazing McCarthy's rearguard and helping ensure United enjoyed more than 60 per cent of possession in a much better second-half display. That said, they persisted in aiming too many high balls at a defence far less comfortable with danger on the ground. Chances were rare.

The rare glimpses of skill were provided by Tonge, John Oster, who offered Sunderland an assured right-sided outlet, and Smith, whose drifting out wide discomfited markers.

Aware he could yet be out of work this summer, Smith was not getting carried away. Last year he scored in the fifth and sixth rounds for Watford but was dropped for the semi-final defeat by Southampton. "I was quite devastated," he said. "I just hope it doesn't happen again."