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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Jeremy Cross

Wrexham hearts broken as late Sheffield Utd goals set up huge FA Cup clash vs Tottenham

Ryan Reynolds must have read the script in advance as Wrexham's FA Cup fairytale came to a cruel end at Bramall Lane.

The movie star owner of Wrexham chose to stay in America instead of travel to South Yorkshire to see if his non-league minnows could produce a shock win against Sheffield United.

And he will be glad he did - because there was no Hollywood ending this time. Two goals in stoppage time from Billy Sharp and Sander Berge spared the Blades' blushes in this gripping fourth round replay.

But had star striker Paul Mullin not missed a late penalty it could have been the Welsh wonders facing English giants Tottenham in the next round instead of Paul Heckingbottom's men.

Reynolds was watching the game from his £4.5m mansion in New York, while co-owner Rob McElhenney was doing the same from a bar in Philadelphia.

Reynolds had even allowed his eldest daughter James to skip school so she could watch the action as well.

Anel Ahmedhodzic opened the scoring to put Sheffield United in front (Ryan Browne/REX/Shutterstock)

Reynolds had described the first tie as a "fever dream" and had been one of the most exciting experiences of his life.

So heaven knows what emotions he must have gone through here as Wrexham pushed Heckingbottom's Championship side to the limit.

Once again the Blades had started as red hot favourites, having lost just once in their last 16 games in all competitions.

Paul Mullin (L) equalised from the penalty spot for Wrexham (PA)

And the home side threatened first when John Egan rose to meet Ben Osborn's corner but headed straight at Rob Lainton from close range, when he should have done better.

James McAtee then waltzed towards goal before ruining his good work by failing to hit the target, before firing wide again minutes later.

Seventy two places separated these two in the football pyramid and it was starting to show.

But Mullin saw his next spot kick saved by Blades' goalkeeper Adam Davies (PA)

But if Wrexham's defending was starting to look heroic - the home side's finishing was fast becoming shambolic.

And the finger of blame was starting to point at McAtee, who blew the best chance of all to break the deadlock on 28 minutes.

Wrexham were exposed after conceding possession inside the Blades half and allowed McAtee to charge clean through on goal.

Billy Sharp's injury-time strike proved to be the winner (Ryan Browne/REX/Shutterstock)

But despite having Ndaiaye free to his left, McAtee chose to go for glory and with just Lainton to beat, shot embarrassingly wide of the left hand post.

Moments later Lainton produced a stunning save to keep out Anel Ahmedhodzic's effort from point blank range as home frustrations began to mount.

"Championship, you're having a laugh" taunted the 4,000 Wrexham fans who had made the trip from north Wales.

Sander Berge celebrates after settling the tie with his goal (Ryan Browne/REX/Shutterstock)

But the mocking vanished on 50 minutes when a bonkers second half started with Ahmedhodzic running onto Osborn's clever pass before beating Lainton with a smart finish at the near post to make it 1-0.

Sharp should have doubled his side's lead seven minutes later but was denied by the impressive Lainton.

And it proved costly moments later when Ahmedhodzic went from hero to villain after pulling down Mullin to concede a needles penalty.

Sharp rubbed in Sheffield United's victory by taunting Wrexham's fans after full-time (Paul Currie/Colorsport/REX/Shutterstock)

The foul was outside the area, but with no VAR Mullin was allowed to pick himself up and beat Adam Davies with an emphatic finish.

Wrexham sensed blood and had the chance to head into dreamland on 71 minutes when Mullin earned himself another spot kick thanks to a stupid challenge from Oliver Norwood.

But this time he was denied by an astonishing save from Davies and their shot at history had gone.

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