SWANSEA midfielder Thomas Butler made Sheffield United boss Neil Warnock pay the price for fielding an understrength side as the Blades crashed out of the FA Cup. Butler, who had scored just four goals in a seven-and-a-halfyear career prior to today, grabbed two in six secondhalf minutes at Bramall Lane to send the League One side through to the fourth round.

Leon Britton added a third from the penalty spot midway through the second period to complete an afternoon of misery for Warnock.

But he has only himself to blame as he made eight changes to the team beaten 31 at Middlesbrough on New Year's Day, sending out a signal that Premiership survival is all that counts. There were still 10 players on show who had played in the Premier League this season, yet their bit-part roles produced a disjoined performance barely worthy of a top-flight team.

Warnock, laid low this week through illness, probably wished he had stayed in bed as it was an absolutely wretched display by his team.