Sheffield United 0 Coventry City 1: Deja vu for Blades boss Speed

BLADES manager Gary Speed says his side must improve if they want to avoid a relegation battle this season.

Gary McSheffrey headed the only goal of the game midway through the first half to give the Sky Blues three points after Stephen Quinn and Jamie Ward both hit the woodwork for the Blades.

It leaves the Blades just two points above the Championship drop zone after 14 games played.

Speed said: "It's deja vu, but I can't keep saying that.

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"We can't keep blaming bad luck or saying that things are going to have to go our way at some stage.

"I've got no qualms about the players' attitude or application, none whatsoever. They are hungry to do well but we have to improve in other areas.

"We are in a scrap now and we've got to roll up our sleeves and fight. We'll do that without a shadow of a doubt.

"I'll carry the can. That's what being a football manager is all about. I'm not going to shy away from it."

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Speed added: "I know we hit the woodwork three times and might have had a penalty award near the end but it is too easy to keep saying that we are unlucky or blaming officials.

"It keeps happening so there must be something wrong on the pitch and it is my job as manager to sort it out – it is a challenge I am looking forward to solving. Despite the chances we made we still didn't score so we have to make even more chances to help us get on the scoresheet. But I can't have any complaints about the players' drive and desire."

Speed refused to criticise Coventry manager Aidy Boothroyd's direct tactics, saying: "There is nothing wrong with that because opponents have to deal with it.

"All week we worked on defending against that, trying to win first and second balls and I think we did do pretty well. All right, they scored from one of those moves but you can't win every first ball.

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"There were times when we were just getting going but City were really organised and killed the game when they needed to.

"We have scored only nine goals in 14 games so our problem is there for all to see, but I take responsibility for putting it right."

Speed made three changes to his starting line-up and brought on new Sunderland loan signing Andy Reid as a substitute.

"He is a creative player and that is what we have been missing and why he has been brought in. He provided that spark but we weren't able to make anything of it," said Speed.

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"He signed too late to be involved in the team from the start because our preparation had already been done.

"I have been waiting for a chance to put Matt Lowton in and he is going to be a good player for us."

Boothroyd offered some comfort saying: "I'm delighted with that result. Sheffield United are probably the best team we've played this season and we've come away with the result.

"To be honest, they will feel a little bit hard done by. They've hit the woodwork and went close on a few other occasions, but we did what we had to do.

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"We stood firm when we had to and played football when we could. That was a good combination. The scoreline tells you that. Andy Reid came on for them and he's a Premier League player.

McSheffrey's first-half header was enough to lift Coventry up to fourth place.

He outjumped the defence at the far post to head home Richard Keogh's flick-on to clinch Boothroyd's side their first back-to-back wins of the season.

They dominated the early stages against Coventry.

Richard Cresswell fired off target in the third minute, Mark Yeates saw his shot from the edge of the area blocked by defender Martin Cranie and Quinn hit the crossbar with a stunning 25-yard volley.

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But Coventry struck with their first attack. Keogh headed the ball back across the six-yard box and McSheffrey headed the ball into the top corner.

Quinn tried his luck with another volley but failed to hit the target and after Sammy Clingan fired in a rare shot for the visitors, the Blades hit the woodwork again, this time when Ward's shot from 12 yards struck the post.

United were nearly made to pay again for their wayward finishing two minutes after the restart when Clingan's 30-yard free-kick forced Steve Simonsen into a fine save and Blades defender Nyron Nosworthy blocked Jutkiewicz's volley from the rebound.

The Sky Blues were full of confidence at this stage and Speed sent on Reid for Quinn.

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The home side responded, with Cresswell going close with a header from Yeates's cross and Speed then sent on striker Ched Evans for defender Johnny Ertl.

But it was the visitors who threatened to extend their lead in the 70th minute when Clive Platt headed Clingan's free-kick the wrong side of the post, and substitute Marlon King, on for Jutkiewicz, curled a 20-yard free-kick wide in the 78th minute.

The Blades were full of endeavour but failed to create further clear-cut chances.

Sheffield United: Simonsen, Nosworthy, Bartley, Morgan, Taylor (Lowton 46), Yeates, Ertl (Evans 65), Britton, Quinn (Reid 57), Cresswell, Ward. Unused substitutes: Wright, Montgomery, Bogdanovic, Calve.

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Coventry City: Westwood, Keogh, Wood, Turner, Cranie, Gunnarsson (Baker 70), Carsley, Clingan, McSheffrey (Clarke 76), Platt, Jutkiewicz (King 73). Unused substitutes: Ireland, McPake, Doyle, O'Donovan.

Referee: D Foster (Tyne & Wear).

Man of the match: Richard Cresswell.

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