There is no doubt that for the first time this season Sheffield United will start an FA Cup tie as underdogs despite being the home side. They advanced to the third round after straight wins over Oxford United (3-0), Torquay United (3-2) and non-leaguers Salisbury City (3-1) - all at Bramall Lane whilst Birmingham City beat their Midlands rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers (1-0) at the second time of asking at Molineux following an initial 0-0 draw.
United will be looking for Ched Evans to hit the sweet spot again after the Welsh striker has scored goals in every round; five in total after scoring braces against Oxford and Torquay - he has found the net 18 times this season. Whilst Birmingham City will look to top scorer Marlon King (11 goals) to see them through into round five.
Sheffield United hold a slight advantage over City in Football League head to head matches; winning three more than their opposition but overall its the Blues who have a better record having won two more games than the Blades.
United won the first ever meeting between the two clubs way back on 17 September 1892 when a 2-0 win at Bramall Lane prevailed; Jack Scott and Harry Hammond scoring the winning goals against Small Heath Alliance that day - they didn't become Birmingham City until 1905! The Blades went onto win promotion to Division One that season (you wouldn't believe it was via the play-offs either), but in the FA Cup the Blues have a great record over United with three victories in each of the three meetings between the two clubs.
Trophy wise, the Blades have won the FA Cup on four occasions; 1899 (Derby County), 1902 (Southampton), 1915 (Chelsea) and 1925 (Cardiff City) and have been runners-up twice in 1901 and 1936 to London opposition Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal respectively. Birmingham City have never won the FA Cup, though they were beaten finalists twice to Midlands rivals West Bromwich Albion (2-1) in 1931 and Manchester City (3-1) in 1956.
We first both met in this competition in 1934 when United lost 2-1 in Birmingham and in 1953 (lost 1-3) and 1984 (lost 0-2) were beaten after a replay at St. Andrews were they had initially drew 1-1 at the Lane - producing 13 goals in total.
They didn't have much luck either in their promotion winning campaign of 1960/61 were many of our elder supporters will remember when they reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup only to bow out in a second replay to Leicester City (at St. Andrews) - in the final City lost to Tottenham Hoptspur who completed the double whilst Sheffield United won promotion to Division One along with Ipswich Town.
Regardless of FA Cup defeats I am sure that a good tie will be played out against a bumper crowed - United have won our last league three games at Bramall Lane, but lost out (4-2) in the League Cup in 2006, midfielder Nick Montgomery has netted three times against City and would be nothing short of a 'miracle' if he was to do it again.
Picture: Gareth Taylor (United) and Michael Johnson (City) tussle for an invisible ball in Blades vs. Blues action on 22 February 1998, City win 2-0 at St. Andrews (image copyright to actionimages.com).
| PLD | WON | DWN | LST | |
| Football League | 98 | 42 | 17 | 39 |
| League Cup | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| FA Cup | 5 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Total | 105 | 42 | 19 | 44 |
| Season | Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008/2009 | Sun 01 Mar | Sheff. Utd. | 2 - 1 | Birmingham C. | Championship |
| Sat 09 Aug | Birmingham C. | 1 - 0 | Sheff. Utd. | Championship | |
| 2006/2007 | Tue 24 Oct | Sheff. Utd. | 2 - 4 | Birmingham C. | League Cup |
| 2001/2002 | Sun 21 Apr | Birmingham C. | 2 - 0 | Sheff. Utd. | League Division One |
| Sat 17 Nov | Sheff. Utd. | 4 - 0 | Birmingham C. | League Division One | |
| 2000/2001 | Sat 10 Feb | Sheff. Utd. | 3 - 1 | Birmingham C. | League Division One |
| Sat 09 Sep | Birmingham C. | 1 - 0 | Sheff. Utd. | League Division One | |
| 1999/2000 | Sat 25 Mar | Sheff. Utd. | 1 - 2 | Birmingham C. | League Division One |
| Sun 26 Dec | Birmingham C. | 0 - 2 | Sheff. Utd. | League Division One | |
| 1998/1999 | Sat 26 Dec | Birmingham C. | 1 - 0 | Sheff. Utd. | League Division One |
| Sat 22 Aug | Sheff. Utd. | 0 - 2 | Birmingham C. | League Division One | |
| 1997/1998 | Sun 22 Feb | Birmingham C. | 2 - 0 | Sheff. Utd. | League Division One |
| Sat 27 Sep | Sheff. Utd. | 0 - 0 | Birmingham C. | League Division One | |
| 1996/1997 | Sat 22 Mar | Birmingham C. | 1 - 1 | Sheff. Utd. | League Division One |
| Sat 24 Aug | Sheff. Utd. | 4 - 4 | Birmingham C. | League Division One | |
| 1995/1996 | Sat 02 Mar | Birmingham C. | 0 - 1 | Sheff. Utd. | League Division One |
| Tue 26 Dec | Sheff. Utd. | 1 - 1 | Birmingham C. | League Division One | |
| 1987/1988 | Sat 09 Apr | Birmingham C. | 1 - 0 | Sheff. Utd. | Second Division |
| Tue 20 Oct | Sheff. Utd. | 0 - 2 | Birmingham C. | Second Division | |
| 1986/1987 | Fri 19 Dec | Birmingham C. | 2 - 1 | Sheff. Utd. | Second Division |
| Sat 06 Sep | Sheff. Utd. | 1 - 1 | Birmingham C. | Second Division | |
| 1984/1985 | Mon 08 Apr | Birmingham C. | 4 - 1 | Sheff. Utd. | Second Division |
| Tue 01 Jan | Sheff. Utd. | 3 - 4 | Birmingham C. | Second Division | |
| 1983/1984 | Tue 10 Jan | Birmingham C. | 2 - 0 | Sheff. Utd. | F.A. Cup |
| Sat 07 Jan | Sheff. Utd. | 1 - 1 | Birmingham C. | F.A. Cup | |
| 1975/1976 | Tue 04 May | Sheff. Utd. | 1 - 1 | Birmingham C. | First Division |
| Sat 04 Oct | Birmingham C. | 2 - 0 | Sheff. Utd. | First Division | |
| 1974/1975 | Tue 29 Apr | Birmingham C. | 0 - 0 | Sheff. Utd. | First Division |
| Sat 26 Oct | Sheff. Utd. | 3 - 2 | Birmingham C. | First Division | |
| 1973/1974 | Sat 30 Mar | Birmingham C. | 1 - 0 | Sheff. Utd. | First Division |
| Sat 03 Nov | Sheff. Utd. | 1 - 1 | Birmingham C. | First Division | |
| 1972/1973 | Sat 17 Feb | Sheff. Utd. | 0 - 1 | Birmingham C. | First Division |
| Sat 12 Aug | Birmingham C. | 1 - 2 | Sheff. Utd. | First Division | |
| 1970/1971 | Sat 17 Apr | Sheff. Utd. | 3 - 0 | Birmingham C. | Second Division |
| Sat 10 Oct | Birmingham C. | 0 - 1 | Sheff. Utd. | Second Division | |
| 1969/1970 | Sat 13 Dec | Sheff. Utd. | 6 - 0 | Birmingham C. | Second Division |
| Sat 13 Sep | Birmingham C. | 2 - 1 | Sheff. Utd. | Second Division | |
| 1968/1969 | Tue 04 Mar | Birmingham C. | 2 - 2 | Sheff. Utd. | Second Division |
| Sat 07 Dec | Sheff. Utd. | 2 - 0 | Birmingham C. | Second Division | |
| 1966/1967 | Wed 07 Dec | Sheff. Utd. | 2 - 3 | Birmingham C. | League Cup |
| 1964/1965 | Sat 23 Jan | Birmingham C. | 1 - 1 | Sheff. Utd. | First Division |
| Sat 19 Sep | Sheff. Utd. | 3 - 1 | Birmingham C. | First Division | |
| 1963/1964 | Sat 25 Apr | Birmingham C. | 3 - 0 | Sheff. Utd. | First Division |
| Sat 19 Oct | Sheff. Utd. | 3 - 0 | Birmingham C. | First Division | |
| 1962/1963 | Sat 23 Mar | Birmingham C. | 0 - 1 | Sheff. Utd. | First Division |
| Sat 03 Nov | Sheff. Utd. | 0 - 2 | Birmingham C. | First Division | |
| 1961/1962 | Sat 14 Apr | Birmingham C. | 3 - 0 | Sheff. Utd. | First Division |
| Sat 25 Nov | Sheff. Utd. | 3 - 1 | Birmingham C. | First Division | |
| 1955/1956 | Sat 24 Dec | Birmingham C. | 0 - 2 | Sheff. Utd. | First Division |
| Sat 27 Aug | Sheff. Utd. | 0 - 3 | Birmingham C. | First Division | |
| 1952/1953 | Sat 14 Mar | Birmingham C. | 1 - 2 | Sheff. Utd. | Second Division |
| Wed 04 Feb | Birmingham C. | 3 - 1 | Sheff. Utd. | F.A. Cup | |
| Sat 31 Jan | Sheff. Utd. | 1 - 1 | Birmingham C. | F.A. Cup | |
| Sat 25 Oct | Sheff. Utd. | 2 - 2 | Birmingham C. | Second Division | |
| 1951/1952 | Sat 15 Mar | Birmingham C. | 3 - 0 | Sheff. Utd. | Second Division |
| Sat 27 Oct | Sheff. Utd. | 4 - 2 | Birmingham C. | Second Division | |
| 1950/1951 | Sat 07 Apr | Birmingham C. | 3 - 0 | Sheff. Utd. | Second Division |
| Sat 18 Nov | Sheff. Utd. | 3 - 2 | Birmingham C. | Second Division | |
| 1948/1949 | Sat 26 Mar | Sheff. Utd. | 4 - 0 | Birmingham C. | First Division |
| Sat 27 Nov | Birmingham C. | 1 - 2 | Sheff. Utd. | First Division | |
| 1933/1934 | Sat 13 Jan | Birmingham | 2 - 1 | Sheff. Utd. | F.A. Cup |
| Tue 26 Dec | Birmingham | 4 - 2 | Sheff. Utd. | First Division | |
| Mon 25 Dec | Sheff. Utd. | 2 - 1 | Birmingham | First Division | |
| 1932/1933 | Sat 01 Apr | Birmingham | 4 - 1 | Sheff. Utd. | First Division |
| Sat 19 Nov | Sheff. Utd. | 2 - 1 | Birmingham | First Division | |
| 1931/1932 | Sat 30 Jan | Sheff. Utd. | 1 - 0 | Birmingham | First Division |
| Sat 19 Sep | Birmingham | 1 - 3 | Sheff. Utd. | First Division | |
| 1930/1931 | Sat 27 Dec | Sheff. Utd. | 3 - 1 | Birmingham | First Division |
| Sat 30 Aug | Birmingham | 3 - 1 | Sheff. Utd. | First Division | |
| 1929/1930 | Sat 18 Jan | Birmingham | 2 - 1 | Sheff. Utd. | First Division |
| Sat 14 Sep | Sheff. Utd. | 4 - 2 | Birmingham | First Division | |
| 1928/1929 | Sat 20 Apr | Sheff. Utd. | 3 - 2 | Birmingham | First Division |
| Sat 08 Dec | Birmingham | 2 - 2 | Sheff. Utd. | First Division | |
| 1927/1928 | Sat 10 Mar | Birmingham | 4 - 1 | Sheff. Utd. | First Division |
| Sat 29 Oct | Sheff. Utd. | 3 - 1 | Birmingham | First Division | |
| 1926/1927 | Sat 07 May | Birmingham | 2 - 3 | Sheff. Utd. | First Division |
| Sat 18 Dec | Sheff. Utd. | 4 - 3 | Birmingham | First Division | |
| 1925/1926 | Sat 13 Feb | Birmingham | 2 - 0 | Sheff. Utd. | First Division |
| Sat 03 Oct | Sheff. Utd. | 4 - 1 | Birmingham | First Division | |
| 1924/1925 | Sat 21 Mar | Sheff. Utd. | 4 - 3 | Birmingham | First Division |
| Sat 15 Nov | Birmingham | 1 - 1 | Sheff. Utd. | First Division | |
| 1923/1924 | Sat 19 Apr | Birmingham | 0 - 1 | Sheff. Utd. | First Division |
| Sat 12 Apr | Sheff. Utd. | 0 - 2 | Birmingham | First Division | |
| 1922/1923 | Mon 12 Mar | Birmingham | 4 - 2 | Sheff. Utd. | First Division |
| Sat 17 Feb | Sheff. Utd. | 7 - 1 | Birmingham | First Division | |
| 1921/1922 | Sat 24 Dec | Sheff. Utd. | 1 - 2 | Birmingham | First Division |
| Sat 17 Dec | Birmingham | 2 - 1 | Sheff. Utd. | First Division | |
| 1907/1908 | Sat 08 Feb | Birmingham | 0 - 0 | Sheff. Utd. | First Division |
| Sat 12 Oct | Sheff. Utd. | 1 - 0 | Birmingham | First Division | |
| 1906/1907 | Sat 16 Feb | Birmingham | 0 - 0 | Sheff. Utd. | First Division |
| Sat 13 Oct | Sheff. Utd. | 2 - 0 | Birmingham | First Division | |
| 1905/1906 | Thu 28 Dec | Sheff. Utd. | 3 - 0 | Birmingham | First Division |
| Sat 30 Sep | Birmingham | 2 - 0 | Sheff. Utd. | First Division | |
| 1904/1905 | Sat 14 Jan | Small Heath | 2 - 0 | Sheff. Utd. | First Division |
| Sat 17 Sep | Sheff. Utd. | 2 - 1 | Small Heath | First Division | |
| 1903/1904 | Sat 02 Jan | Sheff. Utd. | 1 - 1 | Small Heath | First Division |
| Sat 05 Sep | Small Heath | 1 - 3 | Sheff. Utd. | First Division | |
| 1901/1902 | Sat 15 Feb | Sheff. Utd. | 1 - 4 | Small Heath | First Division |
| Sat 19 Oct | Small Heath | 5 - 1 | Sheff. Utd. | First Division | |
| 1895/1896 | Tue 07 Apr | Small Heath | 2 - 1 | Sheff. Utd. | First Division |
| Mon 02 Sep | Sheff. Utd. | 2 - 0 | Small Heath | First Division | |
| 1894/1895 | Sat 13 Apr | Sheff. Utd. | 0 - 2 | Small Heath | First Division |
| Sat 01 Dec | Small Heath | 4 - 2 | Sheff. Utd. | First Division | |
| 1892/1893 | Sat 03 Dec | Small Heath | 1 - 1 | Sheff. Utd. | Second Division |
| Sat 17 Sep | Sheff. Utd. | 2 - 0 | Small Heath | Second Division |