United bowed out of the FA Cup  as the Blades proved too sharp this afternoon at Bramall Lane. Goals from Ched Evans (2) and Ryan Flynn ensured there would be no fairy tale return to Sheffield for Chris Wilder as his side went out despite a battling performance.

Initially at least United had a 4-1-4-1 shape with Paul McLaren protecting the back four and Asa Hall and Jonathan Franks joining Deane Smalley up front whenever possible. However they were facing an uphill struggle from the 12th minute as they fell behind to the Blades' first attack of the game. It came from a deep cross from Stephen Quinn from the left which striker Richard Cresswell tried to strike at goal with an overhead kick. He made minimal contact with the ball but as Stevie Kinniburgh tried to get close the ball bounced off the Scottish left back's body and ran to Evans who fired low and hard past the helpless Ryan Clarke.

It would have been worse on 18 minutes had the outstanding Clarke not made his first top-class save to deny Marcus Williams but the relief was short lived as the Blades made it 2-0 on 19 minutes through Evans again. Andy Whing pushed Cresswell as they challenged for a high ball on the edge of the box and from the resulting free-kick Evans smashed the ball in to the right-hand corner of Clarke's net with real venom.

Clarke made another fantastic save to deny Evans a hat-trick two minutes later and when the Welsh international striker did get the ball into the net for a third time on 22 minutes he was ruled offside. However only Clarke was keeping his side in the game at that stage and the Bristolian custodian was at his best on 26 to keep Quinn at bay as he homed in on goal once more.

To be fair United found their feet after the second goal and enjoyed long spells of possession, although their hosts were extremely quick to close them down and deny them space. That improvement helped lift the fans (or the fans helped lift the performance perhaps) and the half-time introuduction of Harry Worley and James Constable also helped give the U's impetus for a much improved second half.

Constable's 51st  minute header tested home keeper Steve Simonsen for the first time and, urged on by the superb travelling fans, United were in the game, although it took another unbelievable save from Carke to deny Evans on 66.

However on 71 the Blades made sure that it would be their name on ball 24 tomorrow as Clarke came for a long ball, saw his attempted punch under pressure from Neill Collins go awry and, despite Wright doing all he could to clear, the ball only fell to Ryan Flynn who applied a simple finish to make it 3-0.

No shame in defeat against a side who should be in the play-off places in the league above when it comes to crunch time. United gave their all and there was no shortage of effort, heart or support. Those qualities will stand them in good heart as they try to ensure that they are playing clubs as big as Sheffield United on a weekly basis next season.

Att: 7,991

Away: 2,018