It’s just like watching Brazil? You have to be joking, City

As if it was not bad enough that the blue balloons which bamboozled Michael Ball into gifting Sheffield United a bizarre opening goal came from the City supporters, the message emblazoned across them made a mockery of this defeat to Bryan Robson's Championship side.

"It's just like watching Brazil," it crowed, even though City's own Brazilian star Elano snarled his way into a half-time substitution to prevent him from being sent off yesterday.

It is probably better not to talk about watching Brazil until you have learned to watch the ball and the appropriately named Ball became the unwitting victim of the farce, allowing Luton Shelton to fire United into an early lead.

Jon Stead added another midway through the first half and although 18-year-old Danny Sturridge hit back within three minutes of replacing Elano, it was not enough to save City as the final game of the fourth round produced an upset of sorts.

City were perplexed that keeper Joe Hart was not allowed to clear his goalmouth but at least manager Sven Goran Eriksson had the good grace not to blame this for defeat after seeing his side out-fought.

"This was a good lesson for many of our players who haven't played in England before, what the FA Cup is about," said the Swede.

"Maybe they thought when you play a team from a lower division that life is easy but it's more difficult because the motivation from the other team is over the roof."

United were certainly motivated — a different side to the one who capitulated so lamely to city rivals Sheffield Wednesday and left Robson fighting for his job.

A week which started with the manager holding crisis talks with the club's plc chairman Kevin McCabe in Brussels ended with victory salutes and a standing ovation. Manchester United legend Robson has savoured many sweet victories over City but none were as vital to his future as this one.

The Sheffield United manager said: "I thought we matched them in every department. That's what the lads are capable of but it's frustrating because we know the players can perform like that."

Fortunately for Robson, the frustration did not lead to a planned demonstration by disguntled supporters before the game and a team showing six changes answered the call. He also got a little help from Lady Luck when City fell flat on their faces after 12 minutes.

Hart was still frantically trying to clear his area when Lee Martin raced clear down the right. The winger, on loan from Manchester United, crossed low into the box and suddenly Ball was floundering in a sea of balloons. The ball seemed to hit one cluster, altering its speed and direction just enough for the full back to miskick horribly and Shelton stepped up to score from 10 yards.

While Hart angrily finished off stamping on the balloons, Elano set about trying to burst United's bubble. He saw one shot hit the foot of the post and a curling 25-yard free-kick turned aside by United keeper Paddy Kenny before Stead put City two down after 24 minutes.

Stephen Quinn and Nedum Onuoha collided as they went for Derek Geary's cross from the right, Richard Dunne blocked Shelton, only for the loose ball to reach Stead who guided it home.

City's frustration was summed up by Elano as he allowed himself to become involved in spats with Gary Speed and Leigh Bromby, causing Eriksson to withdraw his playmaker at the interval. The City manager said: 'I think he was a little frustrated. Speed is a clever player, he has been around a long time.

"We have to learn and Elano has to learn that life in England will be like this. Nobody will let him do what he wants with the ball without attacking him because he's too good."

His replacement, Sturridge, had an immediate impact. The nephew of former Derby and Wolves striker Dean had never played under Eriksson but he showed the touch of a goal poacher when opportunity came his way in the 48th minute.

City were always at their most dangerous from set-pieces and after United failed to clear a corner properly, Sturridge controlled the ball on his right thigh just inside the area and despatched a left-foot volley in off the underside of the bar.

But there was no way back and City's frustration boiled over again at the whistle, Vedran Corluka barging into Armstrong who responded with a tap to the face. Eriksson's players then trudged off to the dressing room to discover that thieves had left them £1,000 lighter. They will miss the FA Cup far more than the money.

SHEFFIELD UNITED (4-4-2): Kenny 6; Geary 7, Morgan 7, Bromby 7, Naysmith 6; Gillespie 6 (Tonge 77min), Speed 7, S Quinn 7, Martin 8; Stead 8 (Sharp 49, 6), Shelton 8. Booked: Martin, Quinn, Morgan.

MANCHESTER CITY (4-4-1-1): Hart 5; Corluka 5, Dunne 6, Onuoha 5, Ball 4; Vassell 5, Hamann 5 (Ireland 62, 6), Fernandes 5, Petrov 6; Elano 6 (Sturridge 46, 7); Mpenza 6 (Geovanni 71, 6). Booked: Fernandes, Corluka.

Man of the match: Luton Shelton.

Referee: Alan Wiley.