Sheffield United v Coventry City: Morgan leads rallying call in support of Speed

There will be the elation of those whose loyalties lie with QPR and Cardiff City, their two clubs being level on 29 points at the top of the division and two wins clear of the chasing pack.

In contrast, the mood among supporters of Bristol City and Crystal Palace will be much darker while at Middlesbrough the dejection at being in the bottom three is, at least, tempered by this week's appointment of popular old boy Tony Mowbray.

Elsewhere, Sven Goran Eriksson's arrival has raised spirits at Leicester while at a host of clubs the overriding feeling of those who file through the turnstiles every week is one of frustration.

Nowhere is this more apparent than at Sheffield United where the play-off final defeat of 2009 has not been followed, as the fans were hoping, by a concerted push for the Premier League – something that cost Kevin Blackwell his job just a week into this season.

A little under a year-and-a-half on from that 1-0 defeat to Burnley at Wembley, the Blades are sitting 18th with 15 points from as many games.

The task of bringing about a change in fortune at Bramall Lane rests with Gary Speed, the 41-year-old having been promoted from the role of assistant manager in the wake of Blackwell's sacking.

It has been a slow start to Speed's reign with United having claimed 14 points from his 11 games in charge – a tally that, much to the annoyance of captain Chris Morgan, has led to some fans already starting to question the Blades manager.

Morgan said: "The fans, and by that I mean all of them, should be getting behind the manager and not having a pop at him.

"It is ridiculous that he should be getting criticism just 11 games into the job. It is very harsh and certainly something the manager does not deserve.

"I can understand the fans' frustration because they expect us to be at the top end of the table and not in the bottom half where we are at the moment.

"But the gaffer and the players share their frustration. What supporters have to remember is that it takes time for a new manager to put his stamp on a team.

"Look at Neil Warnock when he was in charge here. It took him nearly seven years to build a side to win promotion to the Premier League.

"Gary's appointment came out of the blue. Nobody expected a change that early in the season and he was thrown in at the deep end.

"Now he needs time to do the job and build his own team. My message to the fans is that they should judge him when he has got his own players in and got the side playing the way he wants us to.

"When the boss can say, 'This is my first XI and this is the way we are going to go about it', then the fans can make their assessment.

"In the meantime, the fans should stick with him. That is what he needs and deserves. He certainly doesn't need the critics in the crowd making what is a tough job even tougher by having a dig at him."

United's overriding problem this season has been finding the net, just nine goals having been scored in 13 league outings. Only Hull City, who boast an identical record and sit one place below the Blades in the table, are also yet to hit double figures.

To improve on such a disappointing return, Speed's men will today have to put an end to Coventry City's impressive recent record away from home.

The visitors to Bramall Lane have won two and drawn one of their last three games on the road, and sit sixth in the table.

Speed said: "Coventry are playing well and have shot up the table. I have watched them two or three times and they can play football.

"We are not close enough to where I want us to be, but I have faith and confidence in these players to turn it around.

"They are good players who care passionately about this club and, when all is said and done, we are still only six points off a play-off place.

"I have no doubts that we shall get to where we want to be if we keep on working hard and being professional."

Sheffield Utd v Coventry

Team news: Sunderland midfielder Andy Reid has joined the Blades on loan until the end of November and could feature. Gary Speed must reshuffle his defence after the return of Ritchie De Laet to Manchester United following a month on loan. With Stephen Jordan still out injured, Andy Taylor may come back in although Kyle Bartley is an option with him planning to wear a protective mask over a fractured cheekbone.

Last six games: Sheffield United LDLDWL, Coventry City LWDWLW.

Referee: D Foster (Tyne & Wear).

Last time: Sheffield United 1 Coventry City 0; April 10, 2010; Championship.

SkyBet odds: Sheff Utd to win 11/10; Coventry to win 5/2; Draw 9/4.