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By the final whistle, any remaining optimists would concede that, on this sorry showing, the Clarets season is all but over, the players looking desperately short on confidence and cohesion by the final whistle.
As the teams came out to Star Wars music of all tunes, Darth Warnock, stuck with the victorious Cup winning side, whilst Joda went for a new look midfield, Cook, Grant and Alan Moore making way for Little, Weller and Davis, the latter unsurprisingly well short of match fitness.
In what to prove a dire first half showing, neither side really shone, but in Michael Brown, Sheff Utd have a player of real quality and his two strikes in the half proved the difference between the sides.
Diallo showed West how to defend in the early stages when blocking the dangerous Kabba, before Clarets should have taken the lead on the quarter hour. Taylor's incisive pass put Briscoe of all people clean through, yet from the penalty spot, when all alone, his right footed low shot allowed roly poly Kenny to dive to his right and make a save that should not have been possible given Briscoe's position. A good save maybe, but a poor miss from which Clarets would pay dearly and the fans more so, having to wait forty minutes for the next shot at the portly one.
Within two minutes, United were ahead, a neat passing move setting up Brown some twenty yards from goal. Moving the ball out of his feet, Marlon had little chance with the curled shot into the corner, yet five defenders decided not to bother with a challenge and Clarets frailties were all too visible.
Now step forwards Mr Homer, sorry Butler. Here we have guy who despite there not being a bad tackle all evening manages to fill his little pad with six players, five from the Clarets and swayed by home shouts, his inept performance typified the frustration that led to some Clarets fans being ejected from the ground.
Whilst Weller, Briscoe and Little were all booked for innocuous first half challenges, the inconsistency of the indecision making was pathetic. Cue Kozluk's conned attempt for a cheating free kick, claiming he had been kicked in the face, but after not receiving the decision, his miraculous instant recovery from his brush with fresh air led to absolutely no punishment. If diving is now considered an offence, what chances are there for an improvement in playing standards when professionals act like this?
Clarets were beginning to struggle by the half way mark in the half, a mixture of sloppy defending and an abandonment of using the grass as a passing medium reducing the game to a scrappy affair from both sides, with little goalmouth action to excite a quiet crowd of 17,000.
Cox tried to liven things up, conceding a needless free kick on the edge of the area, before a midfield collapse allowed Kabba a clean run on goal, Beresford making a good double save first at Kabba's feet, before beating Dean Wideass to the loose ball.
At the crowds request, Mr Homer duly obliged in booking Little for trying to get involved in the game, then ten minutes from the break Clarets won a corner, no just a corner. Little tested Mr Homers allegiance to the locals with a late challenge on Kabba, conceding a free kick in a dangerous position on the corner of the area. Quite what Marlon was dreaming about is anyone's guess, but he was caught out by Brown's curler to his near post and could only parry the ball into the side netting for a limp second goal ten minutes from the break.
Tannoy man wet himself in his celebrations, Brown's video now full of master cuttings, but until the break there will not be many Clarets queuing for their video, the ten minutes best described as a shambles, though it must be said that Brian Rix would not have been out of place had he been wearing a LanWay shirt in that period.
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New half, no difference. Within a minute of the restart Branch entered Mr Homers book for a half hearted challenge at best, before Murphy followed suit for a nothing challenge on Ian Moore. Going for broke, Stan went three at the back, when replacing West with Blake on the hour mark, as Briscoe was booked for ??.
Good work from Blake down the left wing released Briscoe who clipped over a good cross to the far post finding the airborne Taylor who headed down powerfully for 2-1 and Clarets were back in it as then immediately Briscoe made way for Grant. The contest lasted for all of two minutes. Given all the foul adjudications of the night, quite how Mr Homer allowed Cox and Kabba to hustle and bustle one another without penalty to the bye line is anyone's guess.
Was the ball out of play as well as a foul, it was difficult to judge from the other end of the ground, but once the ball was hooked across goal Ndlovu couldn't miss from six yards out and the two goal margin was restored,
Taylor joining the bookings in his protests, for which Clarets will now be fined. Ian Moore and Taylor tried to work an immediate reply, but Taylor's scooped shot sailed over the angle. With Clarets up field, a simple breakaway created goal number four, Clarets defence at sea as Ndlovu cut inside an exposed Diallo and the shot sailed past Beresford so that we could all be reminded of how loud the tannoy is at Bramall Lane.
Wideass was replaced by "The Chief" Wayne Allison, before an injured Montgomery was stretchered away for Ewood's finest Curtis to take to the field with ten minutes left.
Blake was proving Clarets only real threat, mainly due to his inability to pass and an ability to create openings for himself and his shot from a tight angle in the final minute went in off the inside of the far post for the mildest of goal celebrations from those who had stayed to hear the final whistle.
Cook replaced a totally ineffective Little in injury time, quite what the thinking behind the switch is anyone's guess, the game had long since been conceded. Mr Homer finally brought the sorry proceedings to an end but not before a luckless injured catering girl made her way from the stadium. "You're not serving anymore" and "who dropped all the pies", were a slight interruption on the nights otherwise very forgettable proceedings.
Att:- 17,259
Star Gazer
Oh they were queuing up for this treasured award. Amongst the mediocrity, Glen Little stood out for his totally ineffective run out. Unable to beat a man all night here is a player so down on confidence and lacking inspiration, a pale shadow of the player who has entertained so often this season.
Glass Half Empty
Seating the visitors in the upper tier of the stand at Bramall Lane does at least provide a decent view. It also keeps you on eye level with most of Clarets passes. Quite why the grass is now deemed out of bounds for passing is bewildering, but the sooner we get back to the way we were, the sooner we may move off forty eight points and rid ourselves of shambolic performances such as this.
Star Geezer
Gareth Taylor. Once again gave a tireless performance, of battling proportions in both areas. His support to the defence was as important as his aerial threat up front on a night when too many were just going through the motions.
Glass Half Full
Normally its 3-0 at Bramall Lane, with nothing to cheer.