Saturday, 26 January 1992
Having demolished Luton Town by four goals to nil at the Lane in round three the Blades were rewarded (in round four) with a trip to Londo0n to face Charlton Athletic who had previously beaten Barnet 3-1, but due to financial problems this fixture was played at West Ham's Boleyn Ground and it wasn't until December until the Addicks returned to their spiritual home.
Athletic were jointly managed by Steve Gritt and Alan Curbishley and only a week previous had beaten Newcastle United 4-3 which placed them 8th in the Second Division whilst top flight United were 19th. Charlton saw this match as a money spinner and after a goalless draw saw positives in a replay for the cash strapped club; ``Getting a draw is like winning for us, we'll get a 20,000 crowd at Bramall Lane and make some money." Said Gritt.
For United, this was a disappointing display which saw the Blades failed to muster a notable strike on goal and after a drab performance manager Dave Bassett was quoted saying; "I bet Tottenham Hotspur and Nottingham Forest have been slaughtered at some time or other on their way to Wembley," it was suggested that United had used up all their luck in this game and that a trip to Wembley would be highly unlikely, and so they were correct for at least 12 months anyway but it wasn't lady luck which shone on keeper Simon Tracey, a Charlton supporter as a youngster he withstood his boyhood teams advances and repeatedly claw out what look to be certain goals.
The former Wimbledon stopper saved well from Nelson, Barness and Bunstead but in the 38th minute was at the mercy of Walsh who one-on-one but slashed his effort over the bar from all of two yards. The second half was very much a carbon copy of the first, Charlton failing to find that killer finish in front of goal and United unable to get off the starting block. `We introduced a new brand of football that I haven't seen before, perhaps the players got together and decided, that after winning three games in a row, they could go out and pose a bit." claimed Bassett.
And so a replay at the Lane was required and would take place 10 days later with the winners knowing that a plum home tie against Chelsea waits.
Charlton Athletic: R Bolder; D Pitcher, A Barness, A Pardew, S Webster, S Gatting, R Lee, J Bumstead, C Leaburn, G Nelson, C Walsh (sub: K Grant).
Sheffield United: S Tracey; C Hill, D Barnes, J Gannon, B Gayle, P Beesley, G Hodges, (sub: K Gage), M Lake, I Bryson, B Deane, D Whitehouse (sub: B Marwood).
Referee: J Worrall.