Match ends, Coventry City 4, Sheffield United 1.
CoventryCoventry City4Sheff UtdSheffield United1
Two goals from Callum O'Hare helped Coventry City keep their hopes of reaching the Championship play-offs alive with a 4-1 win over in-form Sheffield United.
Sander Berge opened the scoring for the Blades, but Viktor Gyokeres got in behind the defence to quickly equalise for the home side.
O'Hare then put the Sky Blues ahead early in the second half, before adding a second just seven minutes later.
O'Hare then set up Matty Godden, who wrapped up the victory with Coventry's fourth goal of the day.
The win means Coventry move up to 10th, three points behind Sheffield United in fifth place.
Other than league leaders Fulham, Sheffield United have been the in-form team of the Championship having only lost once in their previous 12 matches to storm into the top six.
Coventry, by contrast, had lost their two previous games and were without manager Mark Robins and assistant manager Adi Viveash, who both tested positive for Covid-19 prior to kick-off.
After scoring in the midweek win over Middlesbrough, Norwegian Berge took only 16 minutes to put the visitors ahead with a header from close range from a long throw-in.
However, Coventry's top scorer Gyokeres quickly brought the Sky Blues level with his 14th goal of the season, when a long ball came in over the top and he got the better of Wes Foderingham to score in the bottom corner.
With both teams chasing the play-off places and the three points, it remained open. Conor Hourihane sent a half-volley wide for United, Gyokeres and Gustavo Hamer both forced Foderingham into making saves, while a shot from O'Hare skimmed the bar.
Coventry continued to push for a goal after the restart and Gyokeres found himself in another one-on-one with Foderingham. While his shot ricocheted off the post, it eventually fell to O'Hare who bundled it into the net.
The 23-year-old marked his 100th start for Coventry with his second to put them 3-1 up, this time from a tight angle thanks to another Gyokeres assist. And less than 10 minutes later he was involved again, squaring the ball to Godden to add the fourth.
Morgan Gibbs-White and Billy Sharp both saw chances go begging for Sheffield United, while Coventry substitute Martyn Waghorn hit the post deep in injury time.
Coventry City first-team coach Dennis Lawrence told BBC CWR:
"I think the first and foremost most important thing is the gaffer and Adi have a good recovery because we know how this Covid thing works, it affects people in different ways.
"In majority the preparation was done in the build-up to the game, so it was more or less for me to reinforce everything that we wanted to do today.
"The players were outstanding, they really responded going a goal down against a very, very good team. It was pleasing - it was pleasing for the fans, and it was pleasing for the players and I'm sure the manager and Adi will be very, very proud of them."
Sheffield United boss Paul Heckingbottom told BBC Radio Sheffield:
"We can have no complaints in terms of performance. Coventry were better than us, they defended better than us, they attacked better than us and that's why they got the win.
"If you're off it slightly in the Championship you know you can come unstuck and Coventry were excellent today.
"I think they pose teams a lot of problems even when they don't get the results with how they play, they put the ball forward early, make you defend it and then they've got bright players in and around your box.
"Having said that, the nature of the goals we conceded was terrible. Regardless of how well someone's played, the nature of the goals we conceded was really bad."
Line-ups
Coventry
Formation 3-4-1-2
- 1Moore
- 4Rose
- 5McFadzeanSubstituted forHyamat 69'minutes
- 3Clarke-Salter
- 23DaboSubstituted forKaneat 73'minutes
- 8Allen
- 38Hamer
- 18Maatsen
- 10O'Hare
- 17Gyökeres
- 24GoddenSubstituted forWaghornat 82'minutes
Substitutes
- 9Waghorn
- 13Wilson
- 14Sheaf
- 15Hyam
- 20Kane
- 30Tavares
- 36Howley
Sheff Utd
Formation 3-5-2
- 18Foderingham
- 34Gordon
- 12Egan
- 19Robinson
- 23OsbornSubstituted forNdiayeat 78'minutes
- 8Berge
- 16NorwoodSubstituted forMcBurnieat 65'minutesSubstituted forJebbisonat 90+2'minutes
- 24Hourihane
- 33Norrington-Davies
- 10Sharp
- 27Gibbs-White
Substitutes
- 1Davies
- 9McBurnie
- 29Ndiaye
- 35Lopata
- 36Jebbison
- 40Seriki
- 42Arblaster
- Referee:
- Jeremy Simpson
- Attendance:
- 21,732
Match Stats
Home TeamCoventryAway TeamSheff Utd
- Possession
- Home48%
- Away52%
- Shots
- Home27
- Away12
- Shots on Target
- Home14
- Away4
- Corners
- Home5
- Away7
- Fouls
- Home13
- Away4
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Coventry City 4, Sheffield United 1.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Viktor Gyökeres (Coventry City) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Callum O'Hare.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Martyn Waghorn (Coventry City) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Viktor Gyökeres.
Post update
Attempt missed. Callum O'Hare (Coventry City) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Viktor Gyökeres.
Post update
Attempt saved. Callum O'Hare (Coventry City) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Substitution
Substitution, Sheffield United. Daniel Jebbison replaces Oliver McBurnie because of an injury.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Sander Berge (Sheffield United) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Conor Hourihane.
Post update
Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Ian Maatsen.
Post update
Billy Sharp (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Dominic Hyam (Coventry City).
Post update
Foul by Iliman Ndiaye (Sheffield United).
Post update
Jake Clarke-Salter (Coventry City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Offside, Sheffield United. Morgan Gibbs-White tries a through ball, but Billy Sharp is caught offside.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Morgan Gibbs-White (Sheffield United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Conor Hourihane.
Post update
Billy Sharp (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Gustavo Hamer (Coventry City).
Substitution
Substitution, Coventry City. Martyn Waghorn replaces Matt Godden.
Post update
Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Simon Moore.
Post update
Attempt saved. Billy Sharp (Sheffield United) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
Comments
Join the conversation
Coventry fans were great today after all you have been through in the last few years. Fair play to you.
We need to just put it behind us and on to Blackpool.
UTB
PUSB
⚽⚽⚽⚽😂
I'm not getting carried away but a bit of confidence up front, we have the creativity, tenacity and fitness to play to the whistle.
Lets all sing together #PUSB
Stark contrast with a lot of teams this year who are nothing short of thugs some north of end
Great entertainment our Fourth 4 1 victory this year
Sneak into the play offs would be a good achievement