Sheff Utd 1-0 Colchester

Sunday's FA Cup photos

Paul Peschisolido did enough to take Sheffield United through to the last eight of the FA Cup and end the hopes of Second Division Colchester.

The Canadian striker atoned for a string of first-half misses by heading home from Alan Wright's free-kick in the 61st minute.

Kemal Izzet came close to an equaliser with a strike from long range and Karl Duguid's free-kick also sailed wide.

At the other end Wayne Allison's header was off target but the Blades hung on.

Colchester, operating with Wayne Andrews as a lone striker, made some early forays into Sheffield United's half.

Thomas Pinault fired a speculative shot after five minutes but Paddy Kenny showed safe hands in the Blades goal.

The Irishman was soon called into action again when Andrews got on the end of Paul Tierney's cross.

Tierney linked up well with Izzett and Joe Keith in midfield but their neat work went unrewarded.

Neil Warnock's side also spurned a host of chances to take the lead in the first half.

Peschisolido headed Peter Ndlovu's pass wide from eight yards out in the ninth minute.

Veteran striker Allison could do no better when the Canadian striker handed him an easy heading chance minutes later.

KEY MOMENTS 11mins: Peschisolido heads wide from eight yards out 29mins: Stockley's free-kick is turned wide by Kenny 61 mins: Peschisolido breaks the deadlock with a header 72mins: Izzet's 25-yard strike shaves the post

Peschisolido seemed intent on passing goalscoring duties on to his team-mates.

The former Birmingham striker even set up defender Phil Jagielka, who woefully missed from 10 yards out, rather than take on the shot himself.

United's hesitancy only served to boost Colchester's confidence who began to dominate the flow of the match at Bramall Lane.

Ndlovu was booked for a late challenge on Keith and Sam Stockley went close to putting the Us in front, forcing Kenny to turn his resulting free-kick around the post.

The home crowd made their frustration clear as Peschisolido and Allison scuffed a chance apiece to break the deadlock just before half-time.

Colchester continued to apply the pressure in the second half.

Andrews lashed a curling shot from distance straight at Kenny before Rowan Vine's close-range effort was turned wide by Robert Page.

But the Blades were also reinvigorated by the break and their determination was rewarded in the 61st minute.

Peschisolido notched up his ninth goal of the season when he glanced the ball beyond Simon Brown into the right-hand corner of the net.

Colchester pressed forward in search of an equaliser and Izzet came close when he unleased a shot from 25 yards.

Page handed the Second Division side another chance when he conceded a free-kick on the edge of the penalty area after clipping Andrews but Colchester skipper Duguid's effort sailed wide.

A last-gasp effort by Keith also proved futile as his mazy run was closed down by United's defence who held firm.

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Sheff Utd: Kenny, Phil Jagielka, Whitlow, Page, Wright, McCall, Montgomery, Ndlovu (Parkinson 77), Boussatta (Rankine 70), Peschisolido, Allison.
Subs Not Used: Kozluk, Fettis, Forte.

Booked: Ndlovu.

Colchester: Brown, Tierney (McGleish 70), Alan White, Chilvers, Stockley, Pinault, Izzet, Keith, Duguid, Andrews, Vine.
Subs Not Used: Johnson, Bowry, Halford, McKinney.

Booked: Tierney, Alan White, Duguid.

Attendance: 17,074

Referee: D Pugh (Merseyside).