Sheff United 0-0 Lincoln City (2-3 on pens): Hosts dumped out of cup
Sheffield United 0-0 Lincoln City (2-3 on pens): Blades dumped out of Carabao Cup by League One minnows as £18m striker Cameron Archer makes debut
- Sheff United made nine changes from the side that lost to Man City on Sunday
- Cameron Archer made his Blades debut after his £18m move from Aston Villa
- John Egan blazed wide after the Lincoln keeper made two saves in shootout
Lincoln City pulled off a massive shock to become the first lower-league side to knock out Premier League opposition in the EFL Cup this year, after winning on penalties against Sheffield United.
After a goalless 90 minutes, Danish keeper Lukas Jensen denied both Louie Marsh and Benie Traore from the spot before Sheffield United captain John Egan blazed high and wide to send the 3,000-strong away end into raptures as Mark Kennedy’s side booked their spot in the third round.
This was an opportunity for Sheffield United to kickstart their campaign. Three games and three defeats – albeit one despite a valiant performance against Man City – was never going to be the ideal start to the season for Paul Heckingbottom’s newly promoted side.
As it was, they were poor and were made to pay the price. Saturday’s clash here against struggling Everton suddenly feels like a must-win for both Sean Dyche and Heckingbottom.
‘I’d prefer wins rather than any pats on the back,’ were Heckingbottom’s notes in the match programme where he praised his side for their performance against the English and European champions. There was not much to be praised about this performance though against League One opposition.
League One Lincoln City celebrate beating Sheffield United on penalties at Bramall Lane
Lincoln goalkeeper Lukas Jensen made two saves in shootout before John Egan blazed wide
MATCH FACTS
Lincoln City (3-4-3): Jensen 8, Burroughs 7, Eyoma 7, Mitchell 7, Roughan 6 (Jackson 66, 6), Brown 6 (Sorensen 66, 6), Erhahon, Smith 6 (Hamilton 81, 5), Hackett-Fairchild 6 (Makama 80, 5), Mandroiu 6, House 5 (Bishop 45, 6)
Subs unused: Wright, Duffy, Gallagher
Bookings: Burroughs, Erhahon, Eyoma
Manager: Mark Kennedy
Sheffield United (3-5-2): Davies; Bogle 6 (Seriki 63, 5), Basham 6, Egan 6, Trusty 6, Larouci 6 (Buyabu 63, 6), Norwood 6, Coulibaly 5, Brooks 5 (Marsh 45, 5), McBurnie 5 (Traore 45, 6), Archer 5 (Osula 63, 6)
Subs unused: Foderingham, Ahmedhodzic, Slimane
Bookings: Coulibaly
Manager: Paul Heckingbottom
Referee: Paul Tierney 7
Attendance: 11,040
The Blades manager made nine changes from the side that lost to an 88th-minute winner from Rodri, with Egan and Oliver Norwood keeping their places, as well as Cameron Archer making his Blades debut after his £18m move from Aston Villa.
Auston Trusty made his first start for the club, following his move from Arsenal while Oli McBurnie started alongside Archer for his first start of the season.
Yet such was the lack of quality in the first half that much of it was played out to chants of ‘Premier League, you’re having a laugh’ from the 3,000-strong travelling support who made the 50-mile journey to South Yorkshire.
Kennedy’s youthful Imps side were not afraid to play as they carried on from what has been a bright start to their League One campaign, where they are fourth after five games.
The home side’s dire first-half was summed up by Heckingbottom’s decision to remove both McBurnie and Andre Brooks at the break.
It took United until the 52nd minute to test Lukas Jensen in the Lincoln goal with Archer through on goal but his effort was straight at the keeper.
At the other end, Teddy Bishop was denied by Blades keeper Adam Davies after a Lincoln break and perhaps that was the signal for Heckingbottom to make further changes.
Cameron Archer made his debut for Sheffield United following his £18m move from Aston Villa
Lincoln were not fazed by facing Premier League opposition on Wednesday night
Just after the hour mark, he went for a triple-substitution, including removing Archer after a display where the striker constantly made runs but was arguably lacking the service he desired.
United came close to making the breakthrough in the latter stages as they peppered the Lincoln goal, with Egan heading wide from Norwood’s free-kick when he really should have tested the keeper, before Will Osula was denied.
In added time, Trusty’s header from Norwood’s corner was straight at Jensen and as Paul Tierney blew the final whistle after a goalless 90 minutes, it was met by an almighty roar from the away end.
Ten minutes later, that away end was in bedlam as Egan’s spot kick ended in the stands to seal a famous win for the Imps.
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