Up and down the country today teams from the non-league to the Premiership raised their games and showed extra passion because this is the F.A Cup. However, no bulldog spirit was shown by City who looked almost disinterested at times. If you weren't at the game, you may have guessed by my early sentiments that it was yet another defeat for City, the fifth in a row. Wayne Allison's 74th minute header was the only goal of the game and enough to send United through to the last 32 of the F.A Cup.

The reverse means City go out of the F.A Cup in their opening game of the campaign for the first time since that infamous defeat 1-0 to Enfield back in 1994. City were relegated back into the basement that season, with the names in the squad such as Nathan Wigg and Lee Baddeley hardly the local celebrities that the 2004 squad boasts, but you could have been sure they would have shown more fight and spirit than the overpaid team picked by Lennie Lawrence did today.

The City boss made slight changes from the side that went down to Watford at Vicarage Road last weekend, with Robert Earnshaw returning to the XI in replace of Andy Campbell. There had been fears over the fitness of Daniel Gabbidon after he was forced to leave the field with a facial injury last Saturday, but he recovered in time for the game and partnered Spencer Prior at the heart of the defence. Tony Vidmar played at left-back in what is believed to the preferred position of the Australian.

Sheffield United started the brighter of the two sides with a charge of early pressure that brought back memories of the series of corners Walsall had at the start of the game on their recent visit to Ninian Park. The defence from the set pieces was woeful, and Sheffield United have some brilliant saves from Martyn Margetson and poor finishing from Jack Lester to blame for them not taking an early lead.

The Blades continued to have the better of the game, but it was City who had a golden opportunity to take the lead on the half hour mark. Graham Kavanagh's cross found the head of Tony Vidmar, who was given man of the match by the sponsors on the day, but his effort went wide of the post.

It was with half-time approaching that the game reached boiling point. Sheffield United threw in a couple of tasty tackles showing their frustration after failing to take advantage of their dominance, and debutant Dean Sturridge, who to be honest looked ineffective throughout, ended up in the book for a rash challenge on Gabbidon.

Into the second-half and City started to get back into the game more creating some good spells of pressure. Peter Thorne had a chance with a header and Willie Boland sent a shot over the bar but the midfield was dominated by the visitors and Cardiff rarely looked too capable of winning the game.

Neil Warnock, a great lover of the F.A Cup after seeing his side reach the last four last season, made an attacking substitution with just over 25 minutes to play. The Blades boss sent on Wayne Allison on in replace of Ashley Ward and striker Paul Peschisolido swapped with the injured Sturridge.

It was always going to happen - with two new strikers on the pitch one of them was going to score. Former Bristol City forward Wayne Allison gave the lead to the visitors with the goal coming from a teasing cross. Some woeful defending in the box saw the ball, that was badly judged by Margetson, meet the head of Allison who made no mistake from close range.

As the game reached it's finish Bluebirds boss Lennie Lawrence brought on both Alan Lee for the ineffective Robert Earnshaw and Andy Campbell for Gareth Whalley as the hosts reverted to a 4-3-3 formation. However it rarely looked like yielding an equaliser for City despite a late spell of pressure. Sheffield United's defence held out strong, and their midfield dominance saw them through to the Fourth Round.

The attendance at Ninian Park today was only 10,525. Considering the healthy away support from Yorkshire, particularly taking into account it was a 12noon kick-off, the number of home fans in the ground was pretty poor. All the hype and the ridiculous comments about the club from our chairman and the local media are just total rubbish. We are not bigger than Barcelona, Celtic, Rangers, Tottenham or whoever. Let us be realistic and stop letting the players believe they are better than they are!

Undoubtedly the "concentrate on the league" bollocks will come out from the City faithful, but lets be honest, we're all bitterly disappointed at going out of the Cup particularly in such an un-spirited fashion. City's fifth consecutive defeat, and the boos and jeers from the fans on the whistle told the story. A defeat against Rotherham could drag City amongst a relegation dog fight, and the Millers would leapfrog Cardiff with an away win. Can the Bluebirds turn things around for the visit of Ronnie Moore's improving side?

Full Time - Cardiff City 0-1 Sheffield United

Cardiff City: Margetson, Weston, Prior, Gabbidon, Vidmar, Boland, Kavanagh, Whalley, Langley, Thorne, Earnshaw.
Subs: Campbell, Lee, Bonner, Croft, Alexander.

Sheffield United: Kenny, Kozluk, Morgan, Page, Phil Jagielka, Allison, Tonge, Montgomery, McCall, Ward, Lester.
Subs: Sturridge, Peschisolido, Whitlow, Rankine, Boussatta.

Referee: P Taylor (Hertfordshire)

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