The Sky Blues left Bramall Lane empty handed after suffering defeat to Sheffield United in Championship action.

Goals from James McAtee, Ciaran Clark and Tommy Doyle secured the points for the hosts, ensuring Viktor Gyökeres’ 12^th of the season was only a consolation.

The Swede had a chance from the penalty spot, but he was denied by Wes Foderingham.

Paul Heckingbottom’s side were also reduced to ten men with fifteen minutes left on the clock after John Egan was shown a second yellow card.

The start of the game was marred by an injury to City midfielder Callum O’Hare, as he was stretchered off in the opening five minutes in what looked a concerning problem.

City enjoyed the best of the first ten minutes of the game, but it took until the 20^th minute for the first attempt from either side and it was Sander Berge who dragged an effort wide from 25 yards out.

Blades captain Billy Sharp came the closest to the games first goal, hitting the woodwork from a free-kick towards the back post midway through the first 45 minutes.

At the other end, City were creating space, but the host were getting their bodies in the way, blocking from Gyökeres and Ben Sheaf.

However, the Blades would take the lead ten minutes from time in the first half after James McAtee broke free and slotted the ball past Ben Wilson.

Just before the break, the Sky Blues almost found an immediate leveller, but Hamer’s ball into the box was headed wide by Jonathan Panzo.

HALF-TIME: Sheffield United 1-0 Sky Blues

City were given an opportunity to level the game minutes after the restart after Jake Bidwell was brought down in the box and referee Matthew Donohue pointed to the spot.

After scoring from the spot against West Brom midweek, Viktor was left with the responsibility once more, but this time he was unable to convert, as Wes Foderingham denied him from 12 yards.

The Sky Blues would be left to rue that missed penalty, as a few minutes later Ciaran Clark doubled the hosts lead with a header from close range.

Mark Robins made three changes on the hour mark, as the Sky Blues searched for goal to get them back into the game.

A corner from the right whipped in by Kasey Palmer was met by the head of Michael Rose, but his header took a deflection on its way through to goal and went wide.          

The deficit was increased when substitute Tommy Doyle was on the end of Iliman Ndiaye’s ball back into the box, beating Wilson from close range.

Gustavo Hamer had Foderingham worried at the other end, when his free-kick from 35 yards out forced the Blades ‘keeper into a smart stop to his left.

Hamer’s next free-kick would see City pull one goal back as his ball into the box was flicked on by Viktor and beat Foderingham to make it 3-1.

The hosts were reduced to ten men with 15 minutes left to play as John Egan was shown a second yellow card for a foul on Gyökeres.

Martyn Waghorn was one of the three substitutes to come on earlier in the half and he was agonisingly close to pulling another one back, but his header flashed across the face of goal.

City continued to look for goal, but ultimately they ran out of time, as they were left frustrated in defeat at Bramall Lane.

FULL-TIME: Sheffield United 3-1 Sky Blues

Yellows: Ben Sheaf, John Egan, Jake Bidwell, Kasey Palmer

Reds: John Egan

Goals: James McAtee, Ciaran Clark, Tommy Doyle, Viktor Gyökeres

Attendance: 29,651

Sheffield United: Wes Foderingham (GK), George Baldock, Sander Berge, Billy Sharp (70’ Jebbison), John Egan, Max Lowe, Anel Ahmedhodzic, Oliver Norwood, Ciaran Clark, James McAtee (70’ Doyle), Iliman Ndiaye.

Subs: Adam Davies (GK), Enda Stevens, Chris Basham, Reda Khadra, Omar Bogle, Tommy Doyle, Daniel Jebbison.

Sky Blues Xl: Ben Wilson (GK), Jack Burroughs (59’ Dabo), Michael Rose, Callum Doyle, Jonathan Panzo (85’ Tavares), Jake Bidwell, Ben Sheaf (59’ Kelly), Gustavo Hamer, Jamie Allen (59’ Waghorn), Callum O'Hare (7’ Palmer), Viktor Gyökeres.

Subs: Simon Moore (GK), Todd Kane, Fankaty Dabo, Liam Kelly, Kasey Palmer, Fabio Tavares, Martyn Waghorn.