Will FA Cup offer respite for Cardiff?

The FA Cup third round means a chance for respite for Cardiff City amid the scrap to avoid relegation from the Championship.

Yet a trip to Sheffield United was not the kindest draw for the Bluebirds, who have had few FA Cup moments to savour since their run to the final 17 years ago.

Dave Jones' Cardiff side did something remarkable by reaching the final as a second-tier club in 2007-08, when they were beaten to the trophy by Portsmouth after Nwankwo Kanu's solitary goal at Wembley.

Since then, however, there has not been much to shout about.

Cardiff have won only nine FA Cup ties across the previous 16 seasons, with just one success – against Preston North End in 2021-22 – coming in the past four campaigns.

They have been on the end of upsets, losing as a Premier League club to Gillingham in 2019-20 and Wigan Athletic in 2013-14.

They have also been eliminated by Shrewsbury Town, in 2015-16, and Macclesfield Town in 2012-13.

Cardiff, meanwhile, have failed to knock out opponents from a higher division since their run to Wembley, when they overcame Middlesbrough – who were then in the Premier League – in the last eight.

A win at Bramall Lane on Thursday may not be classed as a cup shock given that Cardiff and Sheffield United are in the same division.

But certainly, an away victory would upset the odds, given that Omer Riza's team are in the bottom three while the Blades are third – and would be top but for a points deduction.

At the third-round stage last season, Cardiff were thumped 4-0 by Sheffield United's city rivals Sheffield Wednesday.

And in the previous campaign, Cardiff drew 2-2 at home against Leeds United – a Premier League club at the time – before going down 5-2 in the replay at Elland Road.

After what has been an arduous season to date, Riza's men - who should be buoyed by a three-match unbeaten run - must hope for a more enjoyable trip to Yorkshire this time around.