Sheffield United 2 Coventry 1 - 11/03/2008
Sheffield United: Paddy Kenny, Gary Naysmith, Derek Geary, Chris Morgan, Matthew Kilgallon, Gary Speed, David Carney (Keith Gillespie 64), Michael Tonge, David Cotterill (Ugo Ehiogu 90), James Beattie (Rob Hulse 57), Billy Sharp
Subs not used: Jon Stead, Ian Bennett
Booked: Rob Hulse 73, Billy Sharp 70, Chris Morgan 80
Goals: Billy Sharp 69, Gary Speed 78
Coventry City: Andy Marshall, Scott Dann, Daniel Fox, Elliott Ward, Stephen Hughes, Jay Tabb, Isaac Osbourne, Kevin Thornton, Michael Doyle, Michael Mifsud, Leon Best
Subs not used: Marcus Hall, Danny Ireland, Robbie Simpson, Wayne Andrews, Julian Gray
Booked: Stephen Hughes 76, Jay Tabb 75, Daniel Fox 77, Isaac Osbourne 88, Elliott Ward 63
Goals: Elliott Ward 81(pen)
Attendance: 23864
Referee: T Kettle
Teamtalk
Sheffield United managed a narrow 2-1 victory over a Coventry side now without a win in their last eight games away from the Ricoh Arena.
Billy Sharp headed the hosts into the lead before Gary Speed made it 2-0 when he followed up his penalty. Elliott Ward pulled one back from the spot for the visitors but the Blades managed to hang on for a vital three points.
After standing for a minute's silence in remembrance of former chairman Derek Dooley, it was Coventry who started the brighter.
The visitors went close early on with Scott Dann forcing a smart stop from home goalkeeper Paddy Kenny.
Kenny could only parry the ball and when the clearance found its way back to the feet of Dann, Kenny once again denied the Sky Blues defender.
Coventry's Michael Mifsud, who has 16 goals to his name in all competitions this season, fired a speculative effort goalbound in the ninth minute but Kenny saved well.
Leon Best blazed harmlessly over Kenny's crossbar before David Carney pulled a left-footed shot wide of the right-hand upright for the Blades as both sides continued to look for an opener.
The hosts did manage to put the ball in the net in the 18th minute but Sharp was ruled to have been offside after Carney's drive took a wicked deflection off the Blades frontman and ended up in the net.
Perhaps the best chance of the half fell to Best but his curled effort from inside the box drifted over Kenny's crossbar.
Daniel Fox had a late chance for the away side and Carney tested Sky Blues stopper Andy Marshall from distance just before the break but neither side managed to break the deadlock.
Coventry's Jay Tabb, the match winner against Norwich at the weekend, had an effort blocked by Derek Geary and Kevin Thornton had a shot saved by Kenny as the Sky Blues went on the offensive.
Blades striker James Beattie, who has scored 15 league goals this season, was replaced by Rob Hulse in the 57th minute and Carney by Keith Gillespie in the 64th minute as boss Kevin Blackwell attempted to freshen things up.
And his decision paid off when Sharp headed a David Cotterill cross past Marshall from close range to put the home side 1-0 up in the 69th minute and to claim his first league goal for the Blades.
The hosts doubled their lead 12 minutes from time when Stephen Hughes was adjudged to have fouled Sharp in the box. After initially putting the ball down Sharp eventually handed the task of taking the resulting penalty to Speed. Speed's penalty was saved by Marshall but the veteran midfielder wrapped up the three points for United on the rebound.
Coventry pulled one back from the spot in the 81st minute after Morgan fouled Mifsud but it proved too little too late for Chris Coleman's struggling side.
CCFC
It was an action-packed second half at Bramall Lane but there was no good news for Coventry City as they lost 2-1 to Sheffield United.
A goal from Billy Sharp and Gary Speed's penalty had seen the home side go 2-0 up after the break, although an Elliott Ward goal, also from the penalty spot, had given the Sky Blues a glimmer of hope.
The result marked Coventry City's eighth successive defeat in the league away from home.
Chris Coleman named an unchanged 16 for the trip to face the Blades.
The team and subs were both the same for the clash against Kevin Blackwell's men, as the Sky Blues attempted to win on the road in the Championship for the first time in eight games.
The Sky Blues had a glorious opportunity to take the lead in just the fourth minute when Scott Dann saw his shot blocked by the keeper and then cleared off the line before from the ensuing scramble, City claimed for a penalty when Best appeared to be bundled over in the box.
The decision wasn't given and the action switched right to the other end, where Beattie beat the advancing Andy Marshall to the ball on the edge of the area and Fox was forced to hack the danger away as it bounced towards goal.
The home team had the ball in the back of the net on 19 minutes when Sharp turned in David Carney's cross but the flag was up and the goal wouldn't stand.
Leon Best turned well in the box before curling one around the post with half an hour gone, before Danny Fox also tried his luck from distance as the rain poured down at Bramall Lane.
The Sky Blues created another opportunity just before the break when Thornton's strike towards goal was deflected wide from a corner, but Dann's chance from the follow-up was pushed around the post by Kenny to leave it goalless at the interval.
Both sides emerged for the second half looking sharp but it was Coventry who had the first opportunity with 49 on the clock when Mifsud shot into the side netting.
The Blades made a change when Rob Hulse replaced James Beattie with 57 gone, before Ward went into the book for impeding Kenny four minutes later.
Disaster struck for the Sky Blues on 69 minutes when Sheffield United took the lead. David Cotterill's cross from the right found Sharp on the edge of the six yard box and the striker made no mistake as he rose above the City defence to head home past Marshall.
It went from bad to worse for Coventry City in the 75th minutes when United were awarded a penalty after the referee adjudged that Hughes had pushed Sharp. From the resulting spot kick, Gary Speed saw his penalty saved by Marshall but he had no problem tucking away the rebound to make it 2-0.
After Sharp had fired wide in a glorious opportunity for the home side, Coventry had the chance to make it 2-1 on 80 minutes when they were awarded a penalty for Morgan's foul on Mifsud. Ward took the penalty and made no mistake with his delivery to pull one back for Coleman's men.
But it was to stay 2-1, with the Sky Blues now desperate to put an end to their away day blues.
4thegame
Billy Sharp grabbed his first league goal for Sheffield United since his £1.8million summer move from Scunthorpe to plunge Chris Coleman's side further into relegation trouble.
United keeper Paddy Kenny had kept Coventry at bay with a string of saves, before Sharp finally got off the mark in the 69th minute and the fast-moving game ended in a goal flurry as United increased their lead from the penalty spot, before City grabbed a lifeline nine minutes from time.
United escaped in the fifth minute when Scott Dann connected with Kevin Thornton's free-kick, Kenny palmed his angled strike away. The big centre-back had a second attempt, but this time was foiled by Gary Speed as he cleared off the line.
The Sheffield side squandered a chance when James Beattie beat Andy Marshall to the ball, but the striker turned away as it rolled towards the line and Danny Fox raced in to clear.
Coventry went close again, Michael Mifsud producing a stunning volley which almost found the target as it took a cruel deflection off team-mate Elliott Ward, with United keeper Kenny smothering the ball on the line.
City's lone striker Leon Best was stopped by Kenny who dived bravely at his feet and when Mifsud's low strike was deflected by Matthew Kilgallon, the United keeper conjured up another sparkling save to keep the Midlands side at bay.
United went ahead against the run of play, Sharp heading in a David Cotterill cross.
The Sheffield side's second goal came in the 78th minute after Stephen Hughes elbowed Sharp in the area and Speed scored at the second attempt after Marshall blocked his spot-kick.
Ward gave Coventry hope in the 81st minute, smashing his penalty kick into the roof of the net after Chris Morgan had hauled back Mifsud in the box.
Subs not used: Jon Stead, Ian Bennett
Booked: Rob Hulse 73, Billy Sharp 70, Chris Morgan 80
Goals: Billy Sharp 69, Gary Speed 78
Coventry City: Andy Marshall, Scott Dann, Daniel Fox, Elliott Ward, Stephen Hughes, Jay Tabb, Isaac Osbourne, Kevin Thornton, Michael Doyle, Michael Mifsud, Leon Best
Subs not used: Marcus Hall, Danny Ireland, Robbie Simpson, Wayne Andrews, Julian Gray
Booked: Stephen Hughes 76, Jay Tabb 75, Daniel Fox 77, Isaac Osbourne 88, Elliott Ward 63
Goals: Elliott Ward 81(pen)
Attendance: 23864
Referee: T Kettle
Teamtalk
Sheffield United managed a narrow 2-1 victory over a Coventry side now without a win in their last eight games away from the Ricoh Arena.
Billy Sharp headed the hosts into the lead before Gary Speed made it 2-0 when he followed up his penalty. Elliott Ward pulled one back from the spot for the visitors but the Blades managed to hang on for a vital three points.
After standing for a minute's silence in remembrance of former chairman Derek Dooley, it was Coventry who started the brighter.
The visitors went close early on with Scott Dann forcing a smart stop from home goalkeeper Paddy Kenny.
Kenny could only parry the ball and when the clearance found its way back to the feet of Dann, Kenny once again denied the Sky Blues defender.
Coventry's Michael Mifsud, who has 16 goals to his name in all competitions this season, fired a speculative effort goalbound in the ninth minute but Kenny saved well.
Leon Best blazed harmlessly over Kenny's crossbar before David Carney pulled a left-footed shot wide of the right-hand upright for the Blades as both sides continued to look for an opener.
The hosts did manage to put the ball in the net in the 18th minute but Sharp was ruled to have been offside after Carney's drive took a wicked deflection off the Blades frontman and ended up in the net.
Perhaps the best chance of the half fell to Best but his curled effort from inside the box drifted over Kenny's crossbar.
Daniel Fox had a late chance for the away side and Carney tested Sky Blues stopper Andy Marshall from distance just before the break but neither side managed to break the deadlock.
Coventry's Jay Tabb, the match winner against Norwich at the weekend, had an effort blocked by Derek Geary and Kevin Thornton had a shot saved by Kenny as the Sky Blues went on the offensive.
Blades striker James Beattie, who has scored 15 league goals this season, was replaced by Rob Hulse in the 57th minute and Carney by Keith Gillespie in the 64th minute as boss Kevin Blackwell attempted to freshen things up.
And his decision paid off when Sharp headed a David Cotterill cross past Marshall from close range to put the home side 1-0 up in the 69th minute and to claim his first league goal for the Blades.
The hosts doubled their lead 12 minutes from time when Stephen Hughes was adjudged to have fouled Sharp in the box. After initially putting the ball down Sharp eventually handed the task of taking the resulting penalty to Speed. Speed's penalty was saved by Marshall but the veteran midfielder wrapped up the three points for United on the rebound.
Coventry pulled one back from the spot in the 81st minute after Morgan fouled Mifsud but it proved too little too late for Chris Coleman's struggling side.
CCFC
It was an action-packed second half at Bramall Lane but there was no good news for Coventry City as they lost 2-1 to Sheffield United.
A goal from Billy Sharp and Gary Speed's penalty had seen the home side go 2-0 up after the break, although an Elliott Ward goal, also from the penalty spot, had given the Sky Blues a glimmer of hope.
The result marked Coventry City's eighth successive defeat in the league away from home.
Chris Coleman named an unchanged 16 for the trip to face the Blades.
The team and subs were both the same for the clash against Kevin Blackwell's men, as the Sky Blues attempted to win on the road in the Championship for the first time in eight games.
The Sky Blues had a glorious opportunity to take the lead in just the fourth minute when Scott Dann saw his shot blocked by the keeper and then cleared off the line before from the ensuing scramble, City claimed for a penalty when Best appeared to be bundled over in the box.
The decision wasn't given and the action switched right to the other end, where Beattie beat the advancing Andy Marshall to the ball on the edge of the area and Fox was forced to hack the danger away as it bounced towards goal.
The home team had the ball in the back of the net on 19 minutes when Sharp turned in David Carney's cross but the flag was up and the goal wouldn't stand.
Leon Best turned well in the box before curling one around the post with half an hour gone, before Danny Fox also tried his luck from distance as the rain poured down at Bramall Lane.
The Sky Blues created another opportunity just before the break when Thornton's strike towards goal was deflected wide from a corner, but Dann's chance from the follow-up was pushed around the post by Kenny to leave it goalless at the interval.
Both sides emerged for the second half looking sharp but it was Coventry who had the first opportunity with 49 on the clock when Mifsud shot into the side netting.
The Blades made a change when Rob Hulse replaced James Beattie with 57 gone, before Ward went into the book for impeding Kenny four minutes later.
Disaster struck for the Sky Blues on 69 minutes when Sheffield United took the lead. David Cotterill's cross from the right found Sharp on the edge of the six yard box and the striker made no mistake as he rose above the City defence to head home past Marshall.
It went from bad to worse for Coventry City in the 75th minutes when United were awarded a penalty after the referee adjudged that Hughes had pushed Sharp. From the resulting spot kick, Gary Speed saw his penalty saved by Marshall but he had no problem tucking away the rebound to make it 2-0.
After Sharp had fired wide in a glorious opportunity for the home side, Coventry had the chance to make it 2-1 on 80 minutes when they were awarded a penalty for Morgan's foul on Mifsud. Ward took the penalty and made no mistake with his delivery to pull one back for Coleman's men.
But it was to stay 2-1, with the Sky Blues now desperate to put an end to their away day blues.
4thegame
Billy Sharp grabbed his first league goal for Sheffield United since his £1.8million summer move from Scunthorpe to plunge Chris Coleman's side further into relegation trouble.
United keeper Paddy Kenny had kept Coventry at bay with a string of saves, before Sharp finally got off the mark in the 69th minute and the fast-moving game ended in a goal flurry as United increased their lead from the penalty spot, before City grabbed a lifeline nine minutes from time.
United escaped in the fifth minute when Scott Dann connected with Kevin Thornton's free-kick, Kenny palmed his angled strike away. The big centre-back had a second attempt, but this time was foiled by Gary Speed as he cleared off the line.
The Sheffield side squandered a chance when James Beattie beat Andy Marshall to the ball, but the striker turned away as it rolled towards the line and Danny Fox raced in to clear.
Coventry went close again, Michael Mifsud producing a stunning volley which almost found the target as it took a cruel deflection off team-mate Elliott Ward, with United keeper Kenny smothering the ball on the line.
City's lone striker Leon Best was stopped by Kenny who dived bravely at his feet and when Mifsud's low strike was deflected by Matthew Kilgallon, the United keeper conjured up another sparkling save to keep the Midlands side at bay.
United went ahead against the run of play, Sharp heading in a David Cotterill cross.
The Sheffield side's second goal came in the 78th minute after Stephen Hughes elbowed Sharp in the area and Speed scored at the second attempt after Marshall blocked his spot-kick.
Ward gave Coventry hope in the 81st minute, smashing his penalty kick into the roof of the net after Chris Morgan had hauled back Mifsud in the box.
posted by SkyBlueSnowy at 11:18 pm
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