Robson intent on hat-trick dream

THIS COMPETITION is treated with the same contempt as a concrete cow in the majority of boardrooms but it enjoys a prominent position on Bramall Lane's footballing calendar.

Having twice reached the final with Middlesbrough, Bryan Robson is intent on completing a proud hat-trick by guiding United towards their first major-showpiece since the 2003 Division One Play-Off at Cardiff.

He achieved his objective - just - when United qualified for the third round of the Carling Cup courtesy of an extra time victory over MK Dons. But Robson's joy will have been tinged with disappointment following his admission that the new regime plan to treat knock-out fixtures with the same respect as those in the league.

Ultimately though there are no prizes for style, simply success.

Geoff Horsfield's predatory strike at the end of the first period of extra time spared United blushes after Jon Paul McGovern fortuitous effort had left the game on a knife-edge.

The visitors showed durability and heart but, given their status as favourites to contest the Championship title next May, there was far too much drama for Robson's liking.

United could plead mitigating circumstances including a gruelling coach journey earlier in the day and the need to keep one eye on the forthcoming trip to Scunthorpe.

"There's no doubt in my mind that we can go forward in the cups and still do well in the league," Horsfield insisted.

"We've got a lot of depth in the squad and forwards who, in my opinion, would walk into the majority of teams at our level.

"There's never a bad game to win and its good to get into the habit."

Having fallen behind when Drewe Broughton took full advantage of a collective lapse in concentration, United should have seized control but MK Dons presented them with spirited resistance.

On an evening of firsts, Chris Lucketti and Nicky Law joined Horsfield in opening their accounts for the club but by a strange twist of fate it was Paul Ince - who helped Wolves ensure United's appearance at the Millennium Stadium ended in frustration - who fashioned the hosts' battling display.

Last night's outing served a dual purpose for Robson's men with the quest for silverware balanced against the opportunity for personal redemption.

Horsfield has endured a nomadic existence since being signed by Neil Warnock but his contribution here was a reminder that he could yet play an important role over the coming months.

"I don't know why it didn't work out for me under Neil Warnock," Horsfield continued.

"For some reason he bought me and then just didn't fancy me - there were no fall-outs and I don't hold grudges because that's the way things are sometimes - but I did think it was strange because I've got a lot of experience in helping teams get promoted.

"It's been a nightmare really but I stuck it out because I thought he would go at some stage, in the end he was here longer than I thought, but when the gaffer (Robson) came here we had a chat and I told him I just wanted to play for him.

"I was gutted to leave him at West Brom because I really enjoy working for him."

Ince's presence at the curiously named stadium:mk has added a veneer of substance to the franchise responsible for injecting English football with an unwelcome dose of Americana.

Such considerations will be of little concern to Robson and Ince as they look to impress new employers.

Indeed, such was the United manager's determination to be represented at the draw, that seven of the players who featured against West Bromwich Albion on Saturday, were thrust into action against League Two opposition boasting just a sprinkling of survivors from the team which beat Shrewsbury at the weekend.

But if Robson had hoped a starting line-up which included Billy Sharp, Chris Morgan, Derek Geary and Jon Stead would immediately stamp its authority on the fixture he was wrong as a defence which Kevin Phillips and Craig Beattie had been unable to dismantle was breached in less than 10 minutes by a 28-year-old journeyman from Hitchin.

It was a horrible goal to concede - Jude Stirling's low drive across the penalty area causing confusion before Broughton produced the decisive touch - but at least, from United's perspective, it provoked a response when MK Dons goalkeeper Nathan Abbey, who had earlier palmed David Carney's header around the post, was unable to prevent Lucketti from converting Law's corner.

"We should have made it more comfortable than it was," Lucketti admitted, "But we dug in and showed we can fight."

"That should have been the cue for the visitors to showcase their superior quality and conditioning but while they showed flashes of the ability it was not until Law stabbed home from close range just before the hour that they established control.Ince may be a peripheral figure at MK Dons even on match days - assistant Ray Mathias performing many of the day to day duties - but his formidable reputation has clearly instilled similar belief in his players and, watching the action unfold from the directors' box, the self-styled Guv'nor had reason to feel proud of their contribution.

"We're obviously not happy about going out," Ince said, "And I thought we did well but Sheffield United are a very good team."

He will, however, argue that United's second was wholly preventable.

Quinn's cross was met by Stead and when Abbey was unable to collect cleanly, Law reacted first to cap an encouraging individual performance.

The MK Dons goalkeeper redeemed himself with a fine save to deny Stead and it proved a crucial intervention when McGovern equalised with a deflected free-kick.

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