Sheffield United added Walsall to their burgeoning list of cup scalps this season to guarantee themselves another significant pay-day.

Goals either side of half-time from Tommy Mooney and Peter Ndlovu mean United are within sight of Cardiff's Millennium Stadium for the second time this season.

Boss Neil Warnock's side were just 90 minutes away from a place in the Worthington Cup final last month, only to suffer extra-time agony in the second leg at Anfield.

However, their run to the last four netted United a hefty £1.5million and ensured stars such as Michael Brown, Michael Tonge and Phil Jagielka did not have to be sold during last month's transfer window.

The cash which will further swell the club coffers following this latest priceless win will prove useful should Warnock and his squad realise their ultimate ambition of Premiership football next season.

With all four sixth-round matches live on either Sky or the BBC, each of the eight teams involved will receive £265,000, as well as £150,000 in prize money for emerging from the fifth round.

Another home date in the last eight would see the club's takings push the £750,000 mark, and no-one will relish playing Warnock's side at Bramall Lane given their phenomenal record.

United have not been beaten in front of their own fans since September 28, a run of 15 matches which includes 12 victories and three draws.

Relegation-threatened Walsall perhaps never stood a chance of reaching the sixth round for the first time in their 115-year history.

The defeat was compounded when boss Colin Lee was dismissed from the dug-out midway through the second half by Chester-le-Street referee Mark Clattenburg for what appeared to be dissent.

United, though, started like a side which had lost three of their previous four matches, and still in shock after the events at Portman Road last week.

It was a case of the manager of the month award providing its customary hoodoo for Warnock's promotion-chasers squandered a 2-0 lead against Ipswich, losing 3-2 against 10 men.

United's defence were slow out of the blocks, or perhaps they were blinded by the wintry sun, the brightness of which was matched by the bleached-blond, close-cropped haircut of Walsall's Brazilian striker Junior.

He at least looked lively in the opening exchanges. Junior first dragged a shot wide with just over a minute gone and then teed up forward partner Jorge Leitao soon after, only for the Portuguese star to miscue horribly.

Junior had the Saddlers' only other effort of the half on the quarter-hour mark as Steve Corica's slide-rule through-ball gave him a fine opportunity, but an attempted goal-bound flick was beaten away by the right hand of Paddy Kenny.

It was the wake-up call United needed for they then proceeded to take control of the game, albeit without seriously threatening Saddlers goalkeeper Jimmy Walker.

Walker, who had once served under Warnock during their days at Notts County, had made just one save prior to picking the ball out of his net eight minutes from the break.

A powerful, low, ninth-minute right-foot drive from Steve Kabba was superbly tipped beyond the right-hand post, and it was the United striker who played his part in the opening goal of the game.

Kabba fed Michael Brown for a 16-yard curling shot which Walker did well to turn away, but only into the path of Mooney for an angled tap home and his first Blades goal since his loan from Birmingham last month.

Walker then denied Kabba and Mooney either side of the break before Ndlovu sealed United's passage into the last eight with a far post header in the 56th minute after a looping Brown cross from the left wing had evaded Walker's outstretched grasp.

Junior and Leitao had chances to hand Walsall a lifeline either side of Lee's dismissal, but it never materialised and instead they were left to reflect on their sixth failure in attempting to reach the last eight.

Teams

Sheff Utd Kenny, Jagielka, Murphy, Page, Quinn, Ndlovu, Brown, McCall, Tonge, Kabba (Peschisolido 75), Mooney (Allison 77).

Subs Not Used: Kozluk, Yates, Ten Heuvel.

Goals: Mooney 37, Ndlovu 56.

Walsall Walker, Bazeley, Hay, Carbon (Roper 45), Aranalde, Corica, O'Connor (Matias 45), Simpson, Wrack, Leitao, Junior.

Subs Not Used: Zdrilic, Barras, Ward.

Booked: Aranalde, Simpson, Junior.

Att: 17,510

Ref: M Clattenburg (Co Durham).