Replay okay for Clough

Nigel Clough does not mind having to face Crewe in an FA Cup replay, although he bemoaned Sheffield United's wayward finishing.

The Blades dominated at Gresty Road, but were kept out by a hard-working rearguard action from the side propping up the League One table. Clough's men failed to follow up their recent league victory at the same venue although Jose Baxter, Bob Harris and substitute Diego De Girolamo went close in the second half. "The only thing missing was a goal as we controlled the game like we did in the league game here two weeks ago," said Clough, who will investigate the circumstances surrounding Marc McNulty's absence after the striker missed the game due to a facial injury he sustained on a night out in Scotland. "It was difficult for us as Crewe have only lost one in six games and they set up to stop us. "If Crewe created a chance I can't remember it. We looked a threat all the game. "Diego has been scoring goals at York on loan and he could have won it for us at the end. "But I don't mind a replay and we are glad to go into the hat for the second round." On McNulty, Clough added: "It's frustrating as he got a facial injury on a night out in Scotland. It was away from club duty. It is beyond our control, but I am not happy about it, although he is the innocent party, I am told. "He got a whack in the face and he is having his cheek bone checked out." Crewe boss Steve Davies revealed he had talked to his players about Warrington's giantkilling on Friday night in a bid to inspire them against one of last year's semi-finalists. Davis said: "It was all about containing them in the first half and seeing what we could conjure up. "I talked about Warrington Town's performance before the game. That was all about work rate and I think we deserve to be in the hat for the second round on work rate alone. "We put James (Jones) on and he did well in that midfield role. While we played a bit of football in the second half I think both sides suffered from a lack of penetration. "But they didn't get behind us too often. We've had three clean sheets in five and we're in a decent run. We're set up not to let goals in and that is what we have got to try and do in the league."