Sheffield United 1 Coventry City 2: Blades have game where they wanted it - before Sky Blues show why they are top
SHOULD anyone have mentioned in the dying embers of last spring that Sheffield United would find themselves in 15th position in late February of the following Championship season, then there would have been widespread incredulity, not least from Frank Lampard.
His Coventry City side fought with Sunderland for the right to fight the Blades in the second-tier play-off finale at Wembley last May, with Chris Wilder’s side home and hosed following their first leg cakewalk against Bristol City.
Fast forward to the present - with spring just around the corner - and Lampard’s Sky Blues are a very strong bet to last the course without bothering about the dreaded end-of-season lottery. Heading into this game, Wilder’s Blades possessed a faint sniff of the final play-off spot, but it’s hardly pungent.
Still, Lampard knows his football and enough about the level to know that Bramall Lane remains one of the Championship’s most notoriously treacherous venues.
Coventry’s top-two rivals Middlesbrough may have triumphed here earlier this month, but it was far from straightforward, while Ipswich Town came a cropper at the Lane in January.
After 48 minutes, the Blades had showed their good side. They were full value for their lead, given to them early in the second half by Harrison Burrows, a second goal in successive matches.
Unfortunately, Coventry then showed they are top of the pile for a reason and two goals in the space of five minutes not long after won them the game - in a result which will not go down particularly well in Middlesbrough or Hull.
Haji Wright blasted in his 17th of the season before a header from ex-Huddersfield Town man Jack Rudoni won it as United rued a couple of moments alongside their failure to make the most of a strong first half which should have seen them lead.
It was a first half in which United, with Andre Brooks and Femi Seriki causing plenty of problems in particular - augmented by other strong performances across the park - produced some quality stuff.
They did more than enough to take in a lead, but didn't. They really should have.
Coventry, who mixed it up at times, looked like a side who possessed the capacity to nick one in the second period, attacking their big following of supporters, if United didn't sharpen up in front of goal. Some of their blocks from a defensive perspective were part of the narrative, that said.
Dijbril Soumare got the nod in place of the suspended Kalvin Phillips, while the Sky Blues were unchanged.
It was not the best half from the visitors, who were sloppy at times and created a few problems for themselves. With the likes of Haji Wright and Tatsuhiro Sakamoto on the pitch, they could wait for their moment, mind.
A wicked low cross from Gus Hamer, jeered by the away following alongside Callum O'Hare, almost silenced the boo-boys early when his wicked low cross from the left fizzed across goal and just needed a touch.
Brooks, who caused issues for Jay Dasilva, then fired narrowly wide before Japhet Tanganga and Ephron Mason-Clark was cautioned following a set-to.
Cov first announced themselves when Wright got the better of Tyler Bindon, from Bobby Thomas' punt forward - as home punters bayed for a free-kick before blasting over.
But the slicker passing football and combinations came from United with Bamford then presented with the sort of situation he loves from Peck's pass, but his low shot with the outside of his foot was saved by Carl Rushworth. A player of his quality was capable of better.
The visitors' most incisive move of the half came down the right with Rudoni and Milan van Ewijk working it well, only for Seriki to get a key touch to deny Wright, lurking in front of goal.
Soumare blazed over when well placed ahead of the break, while O'Hare flicked header sailed wide, with a controversial moment seeing referee John Busby ignoring appeals for a penalty after Seriki went down under the challenge of Mason-Clark.
Early on the resumption, United found the goal that had deserted them during their first-half dominance.
Hamer produced the craft, with his lovely reverse pass finding the roaming Burrows, whose shot took a deflection of Doncaster-born Joel Latibeaudiere.
Suitably stirred, Coventry’s riposte was emphatic with Mason-Clark finding a dangerous position on the left before finding Wright, who cut inside Seriki before blasting home a cracking low drive - and showcasing his confidence in front of goal after his recent hat-trick versus Boro.
The finishing prowess of Rudoni then came to the fore as he dispatched a clinical header to turn the game around following Mason-Clark’s pinpoint cross from the left. A terrific finish, but the marking from a United perspective left a bit to be desired.
The game had flipped ever so quickly. United’s response saw Hamer fire wide from distance before Cooper got down well to deny Sakamoto at his near-post.
There were howls for a late penalty after sub Tyrese Campbell went down under supposed challenge from Thomas in the box. There was no contact and the referee wasn’t fooled. Campbell was rightly booked for simulation.
Hamer saw a swerving shot fly wide late on, there was no Hollywood moment.
Sheffield United: Cooper; Seriki (Hoever 83), Tanganga, Bindon, Burrows; Peck, Soumare (Riedewald 72); Brooks (Chong 83), O’Hare (Campbell 77), Hamer; Bamford. Substitutes unused: A Davies, Arblaster, Hjelde, Cannon, McGuinness.
Coventry City: Rushworth; van Ewijk, Thomas, Latibeaudiere, Dasilva; Onyeka (Torp 93), Grimes; Sakamoto (Kesler-Hayden 93), Rudoni (Eccles 75), Mason-Clark (Thomas-Asante 67); Wright (Simms 76). Substitutes unused: Wilson, Esse, Kitching, Bidwell.
Referee: J Busby (Oxon).
Attendance: 27,696