Luck out as Blackwell backs his old routine with Blades

Boro survived to fight another day — next week at The Riverside — and avoided the ignominy of joining higher profile Premier League casualties, but they were almost left red faced.

A Keystone Kops free-kick routine that had Michael Tonge bumping into James Beattie in a deliberate false start saw the striker lash the ball against Mark Schwarzer's woodwork before the break.

Scroll down for more

It was deja vu for United fans in the 22,210 crowd. Blackwell, United's No 2 until 2003, said: "The last time we used that trick Michael Brown hit the bar against Leeds in the quarter-final five years ago. I let the fans know I'm back.

"The Boro fans thought that we'd cocked it up, but our fans didn't. It made Schwarzer and their defensive wall relax for a split second and caught them on the hop."

That was as close as United got to sending resilient Boro the way of earlier victims Bolton and Manchester City but, having lost once this year — to Sheffield Wednesday — replay hopes remain high.

Boro boss Gareth Southgate said: "We knew it would be hard with a new manager. It was a tough examination for the younger players but they came through well. We're still in there fighting, which is the important thing."

Boro fans saluted a recently fallen hero with a chorus of 'There's only one Bryan Robson' and there was some applause from the main stand for the boss effectively fired by United last week.

But the visiting supporters had not all been keeping up with their Bramall Lane news — one threw a beachball into the penalty area just as Lee Martin was about to deliver a Sheffield United corner.

Given the furore that surrounded a goal conceded by Manchester City in the previous round, when a carpet of balloons released by the away fans was blamed, it did not seem the brightest idea of the day.

Referee Chris Foy was all too mindful of the row that followed City's defeat and even halted play at one stage of the first half while three rogue balloons were removed from one corner of the pitch.

United tried to emulate the crowd's welcome back for Blackwell, installed on Friday at the club he served as Neil Warnock's No 2, by giving the former Leeds manager an early goal.

It almost happened with six minutes gone but centre back Matt Kilgallon's blistering effort lured a magnificent one-handed save from Schwarzer with the Boro goalkeeper at full stretch.

Then Derek Geary's cross found the eager Billy Sharp just a stride short of making contact as Boro struggled to impose themselves on a pockmarked pitch that did not lend itself to decent passing.

When Gary Naysmith's blunder let in Mido, the Egypt striker glared meaningfully at the turf after the pass that should have sent Jeremie Aliadiere away skewed dreadfully wide of its intended target.

Paddy Kenny might have been glad of the action, for it was Schwarzer's goal that came under attack on the rare occasions the tie threatened to provide a goal to warm up a chilly afternoon.

Aliadiere could have caused him a huge problem if Chris Morgan had not cynically brought down the accelerating Frenchman and the yellow card the United skipper received was well merited.

David Wheater soon joined him for tugging back lively rival Sharp on the edge of the penalty area.

But Stead should certainly have opened the scoring when he met Martin's corner only to send a thumping header past the post.

That free-kick routine after Julio Arca fouled livewire Stephen Quinn almost brought United their reward.

Distracted? Maybe, but Boro — one defeat in 10 away games — were fully focused after half-time and launched a miniblitz that had United suddenly battling hard to stay on terms.

When Stewart Downing directed a curling, angled volley just beyond Kenny's far post, Boro were looking favourites to ensure at least one more Premier League side would be in the hat.

However even with £12million Brazilian substitute Afonso Alves on, Boro could not break through as Emanuel Pogatetz's injury-time header cannoned back off Naysmith and was bundled away.