Coventry City's U23s slid to defeat in South Yorkshire this afternoon to end their unbeaten start to their Professional Development League campaign.
City started their trip to the Steel City on the front foot with Fabio Tavares shot from the edge of the box springing Blades ‘keeper Jordan Amissah into action to earn the visitors a corner which Tyler Walker headed wide.
The home side’s first effort saw Zak Brunt have a shot blocked with Kyron Gordon’s follow up deflected wide for a corner that was cleared.
Jonny Ngandu then collected possession on the halfway line and played Blaine Rowe in over the top with his shot under pressure forcing Amissah to get down low.
George Burroughs blocked the ball for a corner and from the set piece Cian Tyler was called into action for the first time this afternoon when Gordon headed goal bound but Tyler confidently claimed the ball.
However, a minute later the Sky Blues took the lead when Marco Rus found Blaine Rowe out wide who put a ball across the box that found Tavares for the in form striker to fire into the back of the net!
Bright Enobakhare played in Josh Reid but his cross deflected kindly to Oliver Arblaster to clear the danger before the Blades midfielder found himself in the City box and forced Tyler into a great save, getting down low to deny the shot from 10 yards out.
The home side were pushing for an equaliser but the Sky Blues defence were reducing the Blades to shots from distance with Tyler denying Brunt again after he was set up by United captain Frankie Maguire just outside the D.
City almost doubled the lead when Tavares got in behind and beat Amissah to the ball with the cut back picking out Walker but the forward’s shot went just the wrong side of he post.
Undeterred, Walker then went close on the stroke of half time when he almost caught Amissah out from 25 yards out with a powerful strike that was dipping under the bar.
HALF TIME: Sheffield United U23s 0-1 Sky Blues U23s
The half began with the hosts being awarded a penalty when Rowe was adjudged to have brought down Arblaster with Brunt dispatching the spot kick to equalise.
The Blades almost doubled their lead when Michael Rose intercepted a cross to concede a corner which was glanced wide by the unmarked Kamarl Grant.
City went on the attack through Rus who passed to Enobakhare on the edge of the box with the winger picking out Jordan Shipley with his cross to the back post, but his effort was straight at Amissah.
However, the Blades took the lead when Angello Cappello shot was well saved by the feet of Tyler, but the rebound was headed over him by Regan Slater into the net.
Shipley went close again with Amissah denying him at the near post before Tavares won a corner that was fired goal bound by Ngandu that stung the palms of the Blades’ shot stopper.
The Sky Blues continued to build momentum when a break away earned a corner kick as Enobakhare fired a shot goal bound that was blocked by Grant.
The lively Enobakhare then held off his man to get a cross into the box with Tavares firing towards the bottom corner with Amissah did well to stop.
The Blades broke through Brunt with the midfielder playing in Leo Gaxha whose shot beat Tyler but an acrobatic clearance off the line from Reid kept City in the game.
Slater than almost got his second, after a one two with Cappello, with his chip hitting the bar before Tyler denied Gaxha at the near post.
Reid then tried a long range effort which won a corner, with the set piece taken quickly by Enobakhare that caught the Blades’ defense out with his chip to the back post went just over the head of the inrushing Walker with it not to be City’s day.
FULL TIME: Sheffield United U23s 2-1 Sky Blues U23s
SCORERS: Zak Brunt (47’ p), Regan Slater (54’); Fabio Tavares (21’)
Sky Blues U23s Xl: Cian Tyler (GK), Blaine Rowe, George Burroughs, Michael Rose (C), Josh Reid, Jonny Ngandu, Marco Rus, Jordan Shipley, Bright Enobakhare, Fabio Tavares (Aaron Evans-Harriott 78’), Tyler Walker.
Unused Subs: Luke Bell, Fionn O’Brien, Harrison Nee, Oliver Berry.
Sheffield United U23s XI: Jordan Amissah (GK), Joe Starbuck, Kyron Gordon, Kamarl Grant, Nicksden Gomis, Zak Brunt, Oliver Arblaster, Frankie Maguire (C), Leo Gaxha (Andre Brooks 84’), Regan Slater, Angelo Cappello (Will Lankshear 89’).
Unused Subs: Marcus Dewhurst (GK), Tom Angell, Hassan Ayari.