Phil Jagielka's second half equaliser kept the Blades FA Cup hopes alive as they forced a 1-1 draw at West Ham United.

Harewood's opener for the Hammers was a super individual effort but United put in a prodigiously hard-working display and seldom looked likely to lose.

United spent most of the first three minutes in the Hammers' half and the home side defended with not too much confidence, but Harewood had the game's first shot, off target from 25 yards.

The teams then swapped good moves with United's careful possession eventually snuffed out and then Mullins ending a move by dragging his shot wide.

In the 13th minute Harewood was given far too much time and space to turn and fire in a ferocious drive which Kenny managed to block in front of his face - as much an act of self-defence as anything else.

It was a more competitive fixture than was the case in the League a month ago, largely because the home team had upped their efforts but the Blades were matching them every inch of the way.

Morgan was unlucky to be pulled up for a free-kick when Noble went down in a dangerous position but Sheringham hit the ball against the wall and United cleared the danger.

Jagielka's vision in picking out Harley brought a return ball which produced a header at goal, then Montgomery tried his luck but was again off target.

Jagielka was beginning to exert some influence and combined with Harley for Tonge to produce a super effort that beat Bywater but just floated past the post.

On the half-hour of an even contest Cullip barged Harewood off the ball and the ex Forest man again hammered the free-kick with immense power but into the wall.

Free-kicks and corners from both sides weren't of the quality needed to cause problems, and Andy Gray was maintaining a lonely, physical battle on his own when the support was slow to arrive.

Play was stopped to allow Morgan treatment after an off the ball clash with Sheringham which the nearby Blades fans obviously blamed the Hammers' star

In the 39th minute United were hit by a fantastic goal which they were powerless to prevent. There was an element of fortunate bounce in the build-up but HAREWOOD,in the air and seemingly off balance, found a right foot finish from 15 yards that put the ball into the top corner beyond Kenny's reach.

Immediately Liddell gave the ball away and had to backtrack hard to avert the danger during a spell of home team pressure that threatened a vital second goal before the chance to regroup at the break.

Neither team made any changes at the interval but the first exchanges were scrappy with United not able to make the most of a couple of long throws from Bromby.

Just as United appeared to be lining up a substitution they found an equaliser in the 57th minute.

Neat football ended with a great cross in by Harley and JAGIELKA got on the end of it to head the ball down and over the line although Bywater got two hands to it. A linesman's intervention confirmed the goal, Jagielka's second of the season.

With tackles flying in during a midfield battle Carl Fletcher picked up the first yellow card of the contest after a clash with Montgomery.

Repka soon followed him for petulantly kicking the ball away at a free-kick, a sign of the pressure the Hammers were feeling and the frustration mounting because of the stop/start nature of the game.

Noble felled Montgomery with a high, late challenge that might have brought more than a booking for a more experienced player than 17 year old debutant Noble.

When Liddell got closer to Gray United had more of a threatening look but the gameplan had again reduced West Ham to an anxious frenzy on occasions.

The introduction of Forte out on the left gave United a different look and his speed and unpredictability offered an additional option going into the final ten minutes.

The Hammers reacted strongly when Rebrov was cautioned by referee Dermot Gallagher for an obvious foul on Harley, the Londoners' total now having reached a total of four.

In injury time Rebrov put a tame header straight at Kenny before the Blades calmly ran out time to ensure a replay at the Lane on Sunday 13th February, kick-off 12.30pm.

West Ham: Bywater, Repka, Ferdinand, Mackay, Powell, Noble, Fletcher, Mullins (Rebrov 84), Chadwick (Reo-Coker 77), Harewood, Sheringham.
Unused: Walker, Brevett, Zamora.

United: Kenny, Bromby, Morgan, Cullip, Geary, Liddell(Forte 79), Montgomery, Jagielka, Tonge, Harley, Gray.
Unused: Ward, Cadamarteri, Thirlwell, Francis.