United crashed out of the FA Cup with the heaviest defeat of the season.

Championship Birmingham City scored two goals in each half to progress to the fifth round of the FA Cup.

The Blades began both halves well but were unable break through the visiting defence, the closest being when Matt Lowton struck a post.

For a fourth consecutive game, boss Wilson named an unchanged starting line-up. He kept faith with the team that battled gamely at Charlton the previous week. The FA Cup, of course, offers managers the option of seven substitutions and with Beattie suspended, there were places on the bench for Ertl, Flynn and Philliskirk.

The Blades dominated the opening 15 minutes. McDonald and Quinn both had shots blocked after Evans stepped over a Lowton cross, whilst the visiting goalkeeper, Doyle, faced a couple of nervy moments. He needed two attempted to gather a powerful shot from Evans on 13 minutes and then was almost embarrassed as Cresswell chased down a clearance. Birmingham's first effort came from defender Spector, who drilled wide at the near post after a mis-control by Jean-Francois.

However, on 18 minutes, Birmingham did take the lead from their first corner of the encounter. Burke's low delivery from the right was met cleanly by REDMOND, who smashed a powerful effort through a crowded penalty area.

Winger Redmond had a quick chance to double his tally but, after cutting in from the left, he fired wide, whilst a free-kick, following Caldwell's foul on Cresswell, presented the Blades with an opportunity to level on 28 minutes. Doyle again failed to gather a shot from Evans but the goalkeeper did pounce on the loose ball before United's onrushing strikeforce could arrive.

United's task of progressing further in the competition, however, were hampered further on 38 minutes when City added a second. Elliott found Burke and from his near-post cross, ROONEY sneaked in ahead of Maguire and directed the ball into the top corner.
It could have been even worse before the break, but Burke, with a left-footed curler, was just off target, although the effort worried Simonsen, who was at full stretch.

Again the Blades made a bright start when the teams emerged for the second half. Cresswell could not get on the end of a good move down the left involving Jean-Francois, Evans and Quinn, whilst on 53 minutes, many inside the ground could not understand how United had not halved the lead. Williamson saw his shot blocked by the body of goalkeeper Doyle and in the ensuing melee, Lowton's left-footer struck a post and dropped in the goalmouth before being cleared by Caldwell.

To rub salt into the wounds, Birmingham added a third soon after. Williamson failed to cut out a pass and ELLIOTT was allowed to run at the defence before his shot was deflected by Maguire, beyond the reach of Simonsen's left hand.

Williams replaced Jean-Francois just after the hour mark, whilst Wilson completed his share of replacements when Flynn and Porter took the places of Quinn and Cresswell, respectively. However, the fresh legs were powerless to stop Birmingham adding a fourth on 78 minutes. Murphy's run down the left needed just the slightest of touches from ROONEY to guide the ball into the bottom corner of the net.

McDonald picked up a booking for a foul on former team-mate Elliott and the United midfielder fired over late on. Three minutes of added time were largely incidental, although Williamson forced the Doyle into a save just before the final whistle.

Blades: Simonsen, Lowton, Jean-Francois (Williams 58), M. Doyle, Evans, Williamson, Collins, Cresswell (Porter 72), Maguire, McDonald, Quinn (Flynn 72).
Unused: Montgomery, Ertl, Philliskirk, Long.

Birmingham: C. Doyle, Murphy, Caldwell, Burke (Gnahore 80), Mutch (Reilly 80), Gomis, Elliott, Rooney, Redmond, Spector, Davies.
Unused: Ibanez, Fahey, Zigic, Valles, Butland.