Billy Sharp scores a late winner as the Sky Blues are defeated at the Ricoh...
The Sky Blues suffered defeat against Sheffield United, conceding late in a frantic finish to the game.
Daniel Agyei cancelled out a Billy Sharp opener, cutting inside and hitting a deflected effort over Moore, but the United striker scored his second in injury time to win the game.
The visiting side started brightly and had their first sight of goal from a short-corner routine. Mark Duffy received the ball and flashed it across the six-yard box, but it somehow avoided everyone was cleared to safety.
The Sky Blues’ main attacking threat seemed to be coming from distance with both Andy Rose and Chris McCann finding a Sheffield United defender blocking their goalbound efforts.
Halfway through the first 45 minutes, the visiting side took the lead. Captain and leading goalscorer Billy Sharp latched onto the end of a deflected cross to emphatically finish into the corner past ‘keeper Reice Charles-Cook.
United continued to come forward in search of second goal, as an ambitious effort from ex-Sky Blue John Fleck went close. The midfielder received the ball and looked to chip Charles-Cook, but his effort went narrowly over.
City had their first meaningful chance of the game minutes before half time, as Rose flicked on an out swinging McCann corner towards Wright. The forward took it on the chest and volleyed it narrowly over the bar from 12 yards.
The Sky Blues began the second half with a lot more purpose, and were soon reward. After a period of sustained pressure, Agyei cut inside onto his favoured left foot and struck it towards goal. His deflected effort looped over Moore in the United goal to level the scores.
The second half improvement continued as City came forward again. Gael Bigirimana played it into the feet of Sordell, who took one touch before curling it into the arms of ‘keeper Simon Moore.
The home side were pressing the visitors and won the ball back in a dangerous area to set up a counter attacker. Bigirimana released Rose, who slid it towards Agyei. The striker looked to replicate his earlier goal, but hit his effort wide.
United had their best chances of the second half shortly after through substitute Caolan Lavery. The attacked not once, but twice, cut inside his man on separate occasions and bent an effort that clipped the post before being cleared to safety.
In a frantic ten-minute spell, it was the Sky Blues’ turn to attack. Rose played it into the feet of Sordell, as the striker took it onto his left foot before hitting it narrowly past the far post.
With the game looking to be heading to a draw, the visitors won it late on. Billy Sharp found space inside the area, and despite his initial effort being saved, the striker found the net on the rebound to defeat City.
Attendance: 8,801 (1,193)
Yellow:
Teams
Coventry City: Charles-Cook (GK), Di. Kelly-Evans, Willis (C), Turnbull, Page, Rose, McCann, Bigirimana, Sordell, Wright (Lameiras 73'), Agyei (G.Thomas 67').
Subs: Addai (GK), Gadzhev, Jones, Reid, Tudgay.
Sheffield United: Moore (GK), Fleck, O'Connell, Basham, Sharp (C), Done (Lavery 62'), Coutts (Clarke 75'), Freeman, Ebanks-Landell, Duffy (Whiteman 90'), Lafferty.
Subs: Ramsdale (GK), Hussey, Wright, Brown.