Sheffield United 1 Coventry City 0: Ellis quick to praise 'professional' Blades

United's hopes of a play-off place had evaporated but Bramall Lane's coaching staff were delighted with the response of their charges.

"Every win is a much-needed win," Ellis said. "But I thought that one was well deserved. We had the better chances and we kept on chipping away. In the end we got there and we are pleased that we did.

"We are determined for the campaign not to simply peter out because that wouldn't be the right thing to do.

"But we've got some good characters here, people who approach their profession in the right manner, and so they know that isn't going to be an option."

It was fitting that Glenn Little and Richard Cresswell, United's two most impressive performers, combined for the only goal of a contest which, before the interval, had the air of a pre-season friendly.

A perfectly-executed passing exchange in the 47th minute carved open the defence and allowed Cresswell to power his 12th goal into the roof of Keiren Westwood's net.

Until then, chances had been at a premium with Leon Barnett denying Little with a tackle inside the area and Andy Taylor testing Westwood's reflexes.

United imposed themselves after the break and Stephen Quinn thought he had marked his 150th career appearance by doubling the advantage with a venomous shot until Stephen Wright bravely intervened.

Sheffield United: Simonsen, Connolly, Nosworthy, Morgan, Taylor, Little (Williamson 73), Montgomery, Harper, Quinn (Yeates 82), Cresswell, Henderson. Unused substitutes: Bennett, Naysmith, Seip, Bartley, Geary.

Coventry City: Westwood, Wright, Wood, Barnett, Cranie (Clarke 84), Clingan, Gunnarsson, Baker (McIndoe 64), Bell, Sears (Eastwood 55), Morrison. Unused substitutes: Konstantopoulos, Hall, Grandison, Jeffers.

Referee: G Salisbury (Lancashire).

Man of the match: Richard Cresswell.