Tommy Doyle (left) celebrates after scoring the winning goal against Blackburn Rovers

If ever a club needed a stoppage-time winner, scored by a young man whose grandfathers were both FA Cup winners with Manchester City in 1969, then Sheffield United are it.

Not just for the romance of a Wembley semi-final and not just to continue momentum that they hope will take them straight back to the Premier League come May, but for the mood and the bank balance.

These are tough times at Bramall Lane. They might not go into administration but the financials are bleak unless a takeover resolution can be reached, with Nigerian Dozy Mmobuosi waiting to complete the deal.

Tommy Doyle (left) celebrates after scoring the winning goal against Blackburn Rovers

Tommy Doyle (left) celebrates after scoring the winning goal against Blackburn Rovers

Doyle sent his side into the semi-finals with a brilliant strike in the 91st minute of the game

Doyle sent his side into the semi-finals with a brilliant strike in the 91st minute of the game

The midfielder found the top corner when the game looked headed for extra-time

The midfielder found the top corner when the game looked headed for extra-time 

The Blades players celebrates with Doyle after he produced a magic moment in the cup tie

The Blades players celebrates with Doyle after he produced a magic moment in the cup tie

This has been a horrible campaign off the pitch. Paul Heckingbottom and his squad deserve immense credit for lying second in the Championship and now in the FA Cup’s final four despite the ongoing battles at the training ground and general uncertainty over money. They have been perilously close to administration on at least one occasion in recent months but for a day, they can forget.

MATCH FACTS

Sheffield United (3-4-2-1): Foderingham 8; Ahmedhodzic 7, Egan 6.5, Robinson 6 (Sharp 70, 6.5); Baldock 7 (Bogle 88), Berge 7, Doyle 8.5, Lowe 7; McAtee 7 (Basham 90), Ndiaye 7; McBurnie 7.5

Subs not used: Davies, Fleck, Norwood, Coulibaly, Arblaster, Jebbison

Manager: Paul Heckingbottom 7

Blackburn Rovers (4-2-3-1): Pears 6; Rankin-Costello 6 (Brittain 80), Carter 6, Hyam 7, Pickering 7; Travis 7, Morton 7 (Dolan 90); Hedges 6.5 (Wharton 80), Szmodics 7.5 (Garrett 90), Brereton-Diaz 7; Gallagher 6.5

Subs not used: Kaminski, Edun, Phillips, Leonard

Manager: Jon-Dahl Tomasson 5

Referee: Tim Robinson 5

Att: 25,814

That was made possible by Tommy Doyle, a young midfielder on loan from Manchester City. As the clocked ticked past 90, he thought why not? Twenty-five yards from goal, a quick touch, and there it sailed. It continues a wonderful family history in the competition, with grandparents Mike Doyle and Glyn Pardoe part of that super City team in the 1960s.

The goal befitted the tie. Breathless from the first minute, and a Championship team in the semi-finals for the first time in a long time. Through the wringer, Heckingbottom and assistant Stuart McCall embraced as if they had won the whole thing at full time. Jack Lester went for a jig down the touchline. Bramall Lane stood as one, nobody left. This is what adversity can do.

Blackburn Rovers, meanwhile, remain only one of six teams in the top four divisions still never to have reached the new Wembley. Their last trip was in 1992 and Jon-Dahl Tomasson will wonder if reverting to a back five when 2-1 up going into the final 10 minutes was the right thing to do. They will feel this scoreline should be reversed.

Wes Foderingham thought he had completed the first of a few fine stops to keep this level when tipping Sam Gallagher’s header over the bar. But, as Tyler Morton trotted over to set a Blackburn corner, someone whispered in Tim Robinson’s ear.

Gallagher’s header had struck the arm of Jack Robinson, out by his side while spinning. He’d have done well to have it anywhere else but the handball law is a pain. Ben Brereton-Diaz firmly stroked the 21st-minute penalty in and made a beeline for the home fans in one corner, goading them as he went.

VAR’s involvement, and the delays, brings a sense of frustration in whichever stadium it is installed at but this one is particularly hostile so when United equalised seven minutes later the home supporters felt some justice to this quarter-final.

Max Lowe wound up to strike a half-cleared corner but his shot was sailing wide, only for Gallagher to waft a leg out. Incredibly, Blackburn’s No 9 diverted it into Aynsley Pears’ far right-hand corner. Bramall Lane’s concourses howled with laughter when the own goal was replayed at the break, while they gasped as Jack Robinson – already on a booking for the penalty – escaped further censure when penalised for lunging in late.

By this point referee Robinson, who made his Premier League debut at Wolves earlier this month, had lost control. Anthony Taylor, also fourth official at Manchester City on Saturday, stood on the touchline suffering earache. The afternoon, and the intensity of it, appeared to heap on top of Robinson.

Heckingbottom’s side were on top, although Foderingham excellently denied Dominic Hyam’s header before a double save from Harry Pickering and then Gallagher. United were guilty of overplaying, attackers wanting to beat one too many men or attempting loose extra passes rather than shooting. Beginning to find menacing spaces, James McAtee spurned a massive chance when latching on to a loose back pass by Lewis Travis.

And, on the hour, Rovers had their lead back with strong pressing in midfield. Lowe sold Doyle short and the visitors were in, Gallagher picking up possession and slipping through Sammie Szmodics, who did what McAtee could not moments earlier. Szmodics used to pretend to be Steven Gerrard in his back garden and the finish was reminiscent of the Liverpool legend.

George Baldock celebrates after the final whistle brought an end to the entertaining game

George Baldock celebrates after the final whistle brought an end to the entertaining game 

Gambling, no sooner had Heckingbottom withdrawn a defender for a striker – Billy Sharp entering for Robinson – then Rovers were hitting the post. Ryan Hedges drove inside and into Foderingham’s near post, the effort squirming across the line without going over.

Tomasson went to a back five to preserve the lead. United were looking lost. The thing about this them though is that it’s never quite done. Teams are never quite over the line against them. Lowe scamped inside the box, toeing towards Oli McBurnie and from there, the sheer force of nature took over. McBurnie held off defenders, wriggling free, and left-footed, found the far corner on the turn with nine minutes left.

Still time. Always still time. Doyle fancied it, 25 yards out. Eyed that top corner up and thrashed a rolling ball towards Pears’ top corner. It took his fingers with him and off came the roof.

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