SHEFFIELD, England (AFP) - Middlesbrough rode their luck to stay in the FA Cup despite often being outplayed in a goalless fifth-round draw by a rejuvenated Sheffield United side at Bramall Lane here on Sunday.
The Blades failed to hand new manager Kevin Blackwell a winning start in his first game since succeeding Bryan Robson but it wasn't for the lack of trying.
The Championship strugglers dominated for large periods against top-flight Boro, who enjoyed a threatening spell midway through the second-half but in the main looked anything but the higher-ranked team.
Blackwell wasted little time in signaling his attacking intent, selecting three forwards in his starting line-up for a game he felt confident of winning.
With several unfancied teams remaining in the competition, Blackwell knew this was a fantastic opportunity to make an immediate impact upon his return to the club where he enjoyed Cup success during his time as assistant to former manager Neil Warnock.
Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate sprang a surprise before kick-off, leaving new signing Afonso Alves on the replacements' bench instead of handing him his Cup debut.
Mido and Jeremie Aliadiere were charged with leading the attack while young defender Jonathan Grounds was given his first taste of the competition in what promised to be a tricky tie for the favourites from the Premier League.
The Blades made a bright start and looked like a different team to the one that had stuttered so frequently under Robson.
United tore into Southgate's men and could have opened the scoring within five minutes, but Matt Kilgallon's angled volley was blocked by Australia goalkeeper Mark Schwazrer and the loose ball just evaded Lee Martin.
Moments later Schwazer scuffed a clearance straight to Stephen Quinn, but the Irish international's long-range shot didn't find the open goal.
Mido shot straight at Paddy Kenny in the 15th minutes and then wasted an overlap with a poor pass.
The better openings were being created by the Blades and Jon Stead should have scored in the 27th minutes when he headed a Martin corner wide from close-range to leave Blackwell with his head in his hands.
Middlesbrough's David Wheater was fortunate to escape a red card when he tripped Billy Sharp as the striker charged towards goal following a clever pass from Michael Tonge in the 43rd minute.
Less than 60 seconds later James Beattie beat Schwarzer with a low free-kick only to see it come back of the post as the Blades' frustrations continued.
Schwarzer denied Stead six minutes after the re-start before Middlesbrough enjoyed their best spell of the game.
Kenny produced two stunning, fingertip saves to deny Mido and Wheater before Stewart Downing's instant volley from Mido's pass whistled inches wide.
Moments later Fabio Rochemback blazed a powerful drive just wide of Kenny's right hand post as the Blades took their turn to absorb some intense pressure. United Substitute Chris Armstrong almost made a hero of himself with a winning goal 15 minutes from time but his shot from the edge of the penalty area fizzed just over the bar.
