LONDON, Jan 28: Only six Premier League sides were left in the last 16 of this season’s FA Cup after Sheffield United beat Manchester City 2-1 at Bramall Lane on Sunday.

The Blades, relegated to the second-tier Championship at the end of last season, were 2-0 up inside 25 minutes through Luton Shelton’s balloon-assisted opener and Jonathan Stead before City substitute Daniel Sturridge pulled one back early in the second half.

City’s defeat left Arsenal, holders Chelsea, Liverpool, Middlesbrough, Portsmouth and Manchester United — who beat Tottenham 3-1 earlier on Sunday — as the lone representatives from English football’s top flight left in the hat for Monday’s fifth round draw.

City went behind in bizarre fashion with a goal that owed much to the balloons in their colours littering the pitch in front of Joe Hart’s goal.

Lee Martin, on loan from Manchester United, delivered a low cross that took a slight deflection off the leg of City captain Richard Dunne.

The ball also clipped a balloon, a deviation that appeared to deceive Michael Ball as he missed his clearance.

It almost confused Shelton too but the Jamaica international kept his composure and beat Hart from six yards in the 12th minute.

Sheffield United, after City’s Elano hit the post and had a curling shot saved by Paddy Kenny, doubled their lead when Stead scored from 12 yards after seizing on a loose ball.

Eriksson’s decision to bring on Sturridge after half-time was rewarded when, with his first touch of the game, he struck a left-foot volley off the underside of the crossbar.

In Sunday’s other fourth round tie Championship Cardiff City won 2-1 away to League Two Hereford.—AFP