'What’s to lose by having a go in the FA Cup?'

Ben Meakin, BladesPod

After a disappointing festive period where Sheffield United twice let leads slip in games that looked won, the FA Cup provides a welcome distraction from our rock-bottom placing in the Premier League table.

Last season was the point where I swore never to turn my nose up at a cup run again, as United successfully juggled a journey to an FA Cup semi-final with a powerful end to the season in the league that saw us comfortably clinch promotion.

That seemed to dispel any of the old adages about cup runs being a distraction from league form. And, of course, United have little league form of which to speak at this stage.

Opta’s model has the Blades as 98% likely for relegation following our latest Premier League defeat - so really, what’s to lose by having a go in the FA Cup?

That’s not to say that the strongest United side will automatically beat Gillingham in the third round - although a game against League Two's lowest scorers is about as kind a draw as possible at this stage.

I'll be really disappointed if we're not at least treating this game as the starting point for salvaging some pride out of 2023-24.