A goal from David Thompson just before half-time gave Coventry a narrow
victory over Sheffield United at Highfield Road and a crucial three points to
cement their play-off place.
Thompson tapped home from close range just before the interval and City kept a
spirited United side at bay in the second period to move into fifth place ahead
of Burnley.
Coventry should have taken the lead as early as the sixth minute when Muhamed
Konjic's header from Barry Quinn's free-kick crashed against the post.
But Sheffield United fought back and earned a ninth-minute corner. Robert
Ullathorne latched on to Michael Tonge's flag kick but drilled his shot wide
from a good position.
City stormed up the other end and Jay Bothroyd fired narrowly wide but in an
entertaining start to the match the Blades won another corner which Tim Flowers
in the Coventry goal had to punch clear.
Ullathorne was shown a yellow card by referee Andy D'Urso after fouling
Bothroyd in the 26th minute.
Just after the half hour Lee Mills stung Sheffield United goalkeeper Simon
Tracey's palms with a rasping drive from outside the penalty area.
City were beginning to take control and Bothroyd fired wide after 32 minutes
before Colin Healy's shot flew over the crossbar.
Tracey saved United in the 38th minute with a fine stop to tip Thompson's
goalbound effort around the post. The former Liverpool midfielder stepped up to
take the resulting corner but it came to nothing.
Coventry snatched the lead in first-half injury time when Thompson tapped home
from close range after Tracey parried Gary Breen's drive from a Youssef Safri
cross.
United almost drew level just seconds into the second half when Safri cleared
Robert page's header off the line after an accurate inswinging corner from
Michael Brown.
In the 49th minute Healy was booked for a foul on Ullathorne before Phil
Jagielka missed a great chance to level the scores, heading Tonge's free-kick
wide from close range.
Thompson was booked for unsporting behaviour as United began to pile on the
pressure.
Coventry boss Roland Nilsson introduced Youssef Chippo and Julian Joachim in
place of Bothroyd and Hughes as he attempted to put the game beyond United's
reach.
The move failed to stem the tide of United pressure and, after Safri was
booked for a foul on Peter Ndlovu, Barry Quinn needed to block Page's powerful
header from Tonge's cross.
As United began to sense an equaliser Ndlovu was replaced by Carl Asaba and
Nick Montgomery went on for Tonge.
Asaba should have made an instant impact but his close-range header was
cleared by Safri before Georges Santos replaced Jagielka and City's Robert Betts
was sent on for Thompson.
With three minutes remaining Michael Brown's corner was cleared as United
poured forward, but the breakthrough would not come for Neil Warnock's men.
And in injury time Safri should have made the game safe only for his
long-range right-footed shot to be brilliantly tipped away by Tracey.
Teams
Coventry: Flowers, Quinn, Konjic, Breen, Shaw,
Thompson (Betts 86), Safri, Healy, Hughes (Joachim 69), Mills, Bothroyd (Chippo 69).
Subs Not Used: Hedman, Guerrero.
Booked: Healy, Thompson, Safri.
Goals: Thompson 45.
Sheff Utd: Tracey, Ullathorne, Page, Curle, Uhlenbeek, Brown, Tonge (Montgomery 82), Jagielka (Santos 86), Ndlovu (Asaba 77), Peschisolido, D'Jaffo.
Subs Not Used: Nicholson, de Vogt.
Booked: Ullathorne.
Att: 12,963
Ref: A D'Urso (Billericay).
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