COVENTRY City picked up their first win in five games while at the same time taking away Sheffield United's undefeated record with an impressive 3-2 win at the Ricoh Arena.

City striker Leon Best gave a text book example of a chest and half-volley to hand the Sky Blues the lead after 11 minutes.

But United's Jamie Ward produced a similar example of long-range shooting to bring the visitors level after half an hour.

The second half belonged to the Sky Blues though, Clinton Morrison bagging his fourth goal of the season five minutes after the break and Martin Cranie netting his first goal for the club a minute before the hour.

Darius Henderson, the Blades' most prolific 'goal-pepperer' this season, got the first shot of the game away in the first minute, finding himself with the ball on the Coventry goal line and firing an effort across the six-yard area.

United goalkeeper Mark Bunn was almost left red faced after ten minutes, jumping up for a looped ball but misjudging and dropping, only marginally recovering to steal the ball away from the lurking Michael McIndoe.

McIndoe played a part in City's opener a minute later though, cropssing from the left for Best who chested the ball on the right corner of the six-yard area and allowing it to bounce before firing a half volley past Bunn.

Sheffield United could have been level on 21 minutes when Stephen Quinn found himself with the ball on the Coventry penalty spot witheveryone, including the Blades thinking he was offside.

With no flag from the assistant referee, Quinn shot at goal but Westwood was quick off his line to make a superb close range save.

Westwood could do nothing about the visitors' leveller on the half hour though, Blades' top scorer Jamie Ward firing a screamer from more than 25 yards around Westwood and inside his far post out of nothing.

Jack Cork went close for the Sky Blues seven minutes before the break, trying to keep down a half-volley on the edge of the Blades area which just whistled over the crossbar.

Coventry were back infront five minutes after the break though, McIndoe on hand to take advantage of a defensive slip by Ryan France and race down the left flank and cut back for Morrison to sweep a shot home past Bunn from eight yards.

United struck the foot of the City post on 57 minutes, a corner from Andy Taylor being guided onto the woodwork, City clearing behind for a corner.

The Sky Blues went further ahead a minute before the hour mark though, Cranie opening his account for the club by glancing home a header from a McIndoe corner.

McIndoe came within inches from providing another assist on 74 minutes, beating France all ends up on the left flank and floating a cross from the goal line that proved a shad too deep for Best at the back post.

The Blades narrowed the deficit with 15 minutes to go, a shot from Ward parried by Westwood with James Harper ready and waiting to drive home the rebound from close range to set up a nervous final period of the game.

But the Sky Blues were steadfast in the closing stages, even in the face of five minutes of injury time, to see out the game and pick up a well-earned three points.

Attendance: 14,426 (away 1,187)

Teams

Coventry City: Westwood, Wright (c), Cranie, Turner, Hall (Clarke 83), Clingan, Osbourne, McIndoe, Cork, Best, Morrison (Gunnarsson 83)
Subs: Konstantopoulos (GK), Ward, Eastwood, Cain, Grandison

Sheffield Utd: Bunn, France, Montgomery, Morgan (c), Henderson, Harper, Taylor (Stewart 71), Ward, Treacy (Cotterill 66), Quinn (Evans 61), Walker
Subs: Bennett (GK), Reid, Little