Mansfield Town pull off sensational giantkilling in seven-goal cup thriller at Sheffield United​​​​​​​

Backed by almost 4,800 noisy away fans, Nigel Clough's men turned in a superb performance on a freezing afternoon back at Clough’s former club with ex-Sheffield United player Louis Reed the first half hero.

A rip-roaring first half saw Stags twice take the lead through great finishes by Reed against the club where he began his career, sandwiching an equally spectacular reply from Gus Hamer.

United had more of the possession, but Stags were always a threat, especially with the pace of Rhys Oates, and deserved their interval advantage.

The thrills continued after the break as Lucas Akins and Oates found the net inside the first 12 minutes to put Stags an incredible 4-1 ahead.

But the Blades were far from finished and sub Patrick Bamford stabbed home from a corner before a Nathan Moriah-Welsh own goal four minutes later revived home hopes.

It was a nervous finish, but Stags did everything right and looked after their slender lead to the thrilling end,leaving everything out on the pitch.

Stags made one change from the side that beat Bradford City 3-0 with Frazer Blake-Tracy in for Stephen McLaughlin.

This week's new signings Jon Russell, Oliver Irow and Victor Adeboyejo were all named on the bench.

Blades manager Chris Wilder handed a full debut to new signing Ki-Jana Hoever as he named a strong side, despite 10 changes.

Hoever arrived this week on loan from Wolves, and went straight into a side which also included the returning Ben Mee, who played his first game since the end of November following a hand injury.

There was also a return to the bench for midfielder Tom Davies, who has been out of action since the start of November.

Roberts confidently caught a Burrows cross as United enjoyed the early possession, then Hamer dipped a 20-yard shot over from 20 yards in the third minute.

Amid a scramble, Sweeney did well to block a shot from Ings as the home pressure continued.

But Stags stood firm and on 10 minutes almost grabbed the lead.

Oates looked up from the edge of the box and sent a powerful dipping shot goalwards that Davies was forced to tip over his bar. The corner was cleared as far as McDonnell, but he was wide with his effort.

Two minutes later Evans threaded a pass for Oates, who twisted and turned with two defenders in attendance and forced Davies into another fine save to his left.

But from that Moriah-Welsh corner, Stags did edge ahead on 13 minutes.

It was half-cleared out as far as Reed, who set himself from 20 yards and fired a superb finish into the top right corner.

On 17 minutes a home corner dropped for Ings seven yards out but he was unable to steer it on target.

However, United levelled matters with another wonder goal on 20 minutes.

Hamer took possession, turned, and from the edge of the 'D' unleashed a rocket of a shot that dipped over Roberts and under the bar.

On 39 minutes Chong came close to putting the Championship side ahead.

Burrows curled over a tempting cross from the left and Chong met it with a first time volley went inches wide of the left post.

But lightning struck twice on 44 minutes as Reed netted a second from an almost identical move.

A Moriah-Welsh corner was headed out to Reed 20 yards out and this time he met it with a fierce volley that took a deflection upwards and on into the net past Davies.

Reed made a good block in the one added minute.

Burrows was wide with a low shot across goal in the opening minute of the second half.

Then Oates headed wide of the near post at the other end from an Evans cross.

Hamer then slipped in Chong, but he took too long to shoot and was crowded out.

But a fantastic run down the right by Oates on 50 minutes led to a third for the visitors.

He showed fantastic pace to get down the right to the by-line and pull back an inviting ball for Akins who struck a sweet first tie right-footed finish past Davies.

Roberts was comfortably behind a low Campbell shot soon afterwards.

A Stags break saw Oates release Reed. Soumare fouled Oates as he tried to back up Reed, which saw him booked, and Reed's finish was well over the far angle in the end.

Ings fired over from close in before the home side made a triple change.

Instead Stags were in dreamland as they went 4-1 ahead on 57 minutes.

Oates superbly controlled a high ball down the left, taking it inside Mee on the volley in the same action before running into the box and beating Davies at his near post.

Roberts tipped over a fine 28-yard free kick for a corner on 61 minutes. McGuinness headed that goalwards and Bamford showed his predatory instincts to stab home from five yards and reduce the arrears to 4-2.

Oates was inches away from connecting with a Reed cross into another Mansfield break.

But United bagged a second goal in four minutes to pull within one on 65 minutes.

Brooks crossed from the right and Oshilaja and Moriah-Welsh went to block, but the ball flew off Moriah-Welsh's leg and agonisingly into the net off the underside of his own bar.

On 71 minutes Roberts beat away a powerful on-target effort by Arblaster as the Blades upped the tempo for an equaliser.

With 15 minutes to go, Stags sent on new boys Adeboyejo and Russell for their debuts in place of Moriah-Welsh and Oates while Lewis took over from McDonnell as Mansfield went for fresh legs for what was set to be a testing finish.

Lewis flashed a low shot across the face of the home goal on 79 minutes.

Three minutes later Bamford went down under Reed's challenge but no penalty was given and Burrows then saw his shot deflect over.

McLaughlin replaced Evans for the final six minutes of the 90.

Sweeney blocked a goalbound Campbell shot in the box on 87 minutes as the pressure intensified.

Lewis was booked for halting a United break by fouling Campbell on 88 minutes.

A minimum of six minutes were added in which Blades quickly won two corners as the away fans continued to bite their nails.

But magnificent game management saw the visitors home to a famous victory.

BLADES: A. Davies, Arblaster (Riedewald 84), Hamer, Ings (Bamford 56), Hoever (Seriki 56), Burrows, Mee, Soumaré (T. Davies 70), Campbell, Chong (Brooks 56), McGuinness. SUBS NOT USED: Faxon, McCallum, Bindon, Cannon.

STAGS: Roberts, Oshilaja, Sweeney, Cargill, Akins, McDonnell (Lewis 75), Reed, Blake-Tracy, Moriah-Welsh (Russell 75), Evans (McLaughlin 84), Oates (Adeboyejo 75). SUBS NOT USED: Mason, Hewitt, Bolton, Irow, Dwyer.

REFEREE: Gavin Ward.

ATTENDANCE: 17,514.