Sheffield United 1-0 Tottenham: Player ratings as Spurs stunned in FA Cup
By Sean Walsh
Tottenham's hopes of winning a first FA Cup since 1991 were dashed as Sheffield United beat them 1-0 in the fifth round of this season's competition on Wednesday night.
The visitors were flat at Bramall Lane and though the Blades' late winner was against the run of play, Spurs can have no complaints having provided very little themselves.
The opening period of the game saw Spurs have most of the ball, though they could only muster attempts from distance - most of which were blocked anyway.
Their first real sight of goal came just before the half-hour mark when Davinson Sanchez picked out the run of Richarlison after he drifted into the right-hand channel, but his first-time strike sailed over the bar.
A cross from Lucas Moura clipped the top of the woodwork just as it looked as if Richarlison was nod it in from point-blank range towards the end of a quiet first half.
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg's weak header back towards Fraser Forster allowed Ismaila Coulibaly a clear sight of goal, only to fire wide and the two sides went into the break goalless.
Just after the break, Ivan Perisic flicked on a teasing corner from Son Heung-min, but Wes Foderingham managed to keep hold of the ball and deny the Croatian.
Tottenham threw on Harry Kane in search of a much-needed goal, but the opener came through Sheffield United substitute Iliman Ndiaye, who wriggled in from the left and fired in at the near post with just over 10 minutes remaining.
Sheffield United player ratings (3-5-1-1)
GK: Wes Foderingham (6); CB: Anel Ahmedhodzic (8), CB: Chris Basham (7), CB: Jack Robinson (7); RM: George Baldock (5), CM: Ismaila Coulibaly (5), CM: Tommy Doyle (9), CM: Andre Brooks (5), LM: Ben Osborn (6); AM: James McAtee (7), CF: Billy Sharp (5)
SUBS: Max Lowe (6), Sander Berge (6), Iliman Ndiaye (9)
Tottenham Hotspur player ratings (3-4-2-1)
GK: Fraser Forster - 5/10 - Ndiaye's effort crept under him at the near post.
CB: Davinson Sanchez - 5/10 - Did not offer a lot of confidence on or off the ball.
CB: Eric Dier - 6/10 - Largely fine but that was as good as it got.
CB: Ben Davies - 6/10 - Untroubled for the most part.
RM: Pedro Porro - 5/10 - One of Spurs' most positive players and was actually decent at defending until Ndiaye cut inside.
CM: Pape Sarr - 6/10 - Put his foot in during a rough midfield battle. Booked and hooked.
CM: Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg - 5/10 - Nearly played Tottenham into trouble in the first half.
LM: Ivan Perisic - 4/10 - Outworked and outplayed.
RF: Lucas Moura - 5/10 - Carried the ball up the pitch, but often down blind alleys. Withdrawn late on.
LF: Son Heung-min - 4/10 - Tried to dribble his way to glory when it was too late. Shied away from the ball.
CF: Richarlison - 5/10 - Worked hard but was never truly a goal threat. Replaced by Kane.
Substitutes
Harry Kane (65' for Richarlison) - 4/10
Dejan Kulusevski (74' for Lucas) - 4/10
Oliver Skipp (74' for Sarr) - 5/10
Manager
Cristian Stellini - 3/10 - Spurs were incredibly flat and deserved to go out.