COVENTRY City's six-game unbeaten run was brought to an end by Sheffield United after goals either side of the half-time whistle.

Leigh Bromby opened the scoring with a controversial goal in first-half injury time with Blades skipper Chris Morgan heading in a second five minutes after the second-half restart.

Coventry captain Scott Dann headed one back for the Sky Blues with 20 minutes to go and give the hosts some hope.

But despite a late push by Chris Coleman's side, it was not enough to prevent City's first defeat in the league since January.

The Sky Blues made all the running in the first 45 minutes but it was Kevin Blackwell's side who broke the deadlock against the run of play with their first real effort on goal.

City undoubtedly had more opportunities to take the lead in a relatively steady first half.

And Sheffield United, currently trying to cement a spot in the top six, rarely troubled Keiren Westwood's goal for City.

Freddy Eastwood and Jordan Henderson both had opportunities to hand Coventry the lead, Eastwood having a shot from the edge of the area pushed around the post by Paddy Kenny two minutes before the half hour.

Jordan Henderson then went through three minutes later after a deft flick on from Robbie Simpson only to shoot too early and pull his effort wide of the post.

But it was a cruel end to the half for Chris Coleman's side as Darius Henderson climbed to head at goal a minute into injury time, Westwood pushing the ball out of the goalmouth into the path of Bromby.

Bromby's tap at goal from inside the six-yard box was also blocked and scrambled away by Westwood.

But the linesman flagged the ball had crossed the line, handing Blades a goal lead going into the interval.

It got worse for the Sky Blues five minutes after the break, half-time substitute Isaac Osbourne giving away a free-kick on the left flank and Blades captain Morgan rising to head home past Westwood at the back post.

Dann gave City a glimpse of hope on 69 minutes, heading Aron Gunnarsson's mammoth throw past Paddy Kenny.

And, along with the introduction of Clinton Morrison five minutes previously, seemed to rouse the Sky Blues as they owned the final 15 minutes but just lacked the final ball as they peppered the United penalty area.

Substitute Guillaume Beuzelin's delivered corner four minutes after Dann's goal caused panic in the United area, bodies blocking the ball on the line with Jordan Henderson's follow-up effort going just over the bar.

But it was not to be for the Sky Blues as they were forced to succumb to their first loss for six games.

Attendance: 16,300 (1,142 away)

Teams

Coventry City: Westwood, Dann, Turner, Fox (Osbourne 45), Wright, Gunnarsson, Doyle (Beuzelin 63), Henderson, Bell, Eastwood, Simpson (Morrison 63)
Subs: Marshall (GK), Ward

Sheffield United: Naysmith, Cotterill (Halford 78), Morgan, Kilgallon, Montgomery, Howard (O'Toole 75), Quinn, Naughton, Bromby (Beattie 79)
Subs: Webber, Ward