A young City side suffered a narrow defeat against the Blades at Nuneaton Town's Liberty Way...
Coventry City Under-21s were unable to complete an second-half comeback against Sheffield United at Liberty Way.
After a goalless first 45 minutes, goals from Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Otis Khan cancelled out Jordan Shipley's 75th minute strike as the Sky Blues ended the game with ten men.
With the first team set to play Bradford City at Sixfields on Tuesday, Ian Foster had to select a young side for the game against the Blades.
Seven of the City team who played against the Blades also played 90 minutes in the 2-1 win for the Under-18s at Crewe Alexandra.
Despite that, it was City who had the better chances in the opening stages when in the 6th minute, Louis Garner flicked the ball on to Lewis Rankin in the area but his volley was well blocked.
The referee gave the Sky Blues a perfect chance to go ahead when Sheffield's Ben Whiteman was guilty of a back-pass and City were awarded an indirect free-kick 10 yards out.
Rankin flicked the ball into the path of Stuart Urquhart but he slipped and had his shot blocked in the 21st minute.
A neat interchange in play from Ryan Haynes and Ivor Lawton resulted in Jordan Shipley bursting through but his shot was well saved by the keeper in the 30th minute.
The Blades came out the stronger in the second-half and took the lead when Dominic Calvert-Lewin converted Luke O'Nien's cross in the 60th minute.
They doubled their lead eight minutes later when the Blades worked it well down the left side and Otis Khan tapped home.
The Sky Blues showed a grit and determination befitting of the first team performance at Crewe Alexandra at the weekend and got a goal back in the 75th minute.
A long ball forward from Urquhart caught the Blades defence out and Shipley raced onto it to fire home from the edge of the area.
Ryan Quinn was stretchered off with ten minutes remaining meaning City had to play the final stages of the game with ten men.
Despite facing an uphill challenge, City should have came away with a point when Dion Kelly-Evans had his low effort saved and cleared off the line with three minutes remaining.
Teams
Coventry City Under-21: Burge (GK), Smith, Haynes (C) (Dion Kelly-Evans 50), Finch, Urquhart, Quinn, Rankin, Lawton, Maund (Devon Kelly-Evans 13), Garner, Shipley.
Subs: Richards (GK).
Sheffield United Under-21: Willis (GK), Pailing, Hodder, Dimaio, Banton, Whiteman, Khan, O'Nien, Calvert-Lewin, De-Girolamo, Hamilton.
Subs: Johns, Eastwood, Smith, Cockerline, Cheeseman.