Coventry City have recorded a 3-2 victory over Sheffield United to move up to 16th position in the League One table.
The Sky Blues dominated the opening hour to move into a three-goal lead courtesy of a double from Leon Clarke and a first-time effort from Callum Wilson.
The Blades improved after the break, but Lyle Taylor's first two goals for the Yorkshire outfit came too late for his side to earn a result, which would have kept them off the bottom of the table.
Read below to see how the action unfolded at Sixfields.
Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's coverage of the match between Coventry City and Sheffield United in League One.
If I said to you that we are covering a match between two teams placed in 20th and 23rd in League One respectively, you wouldn't expect that the two teams competing would be Coventry City and Sheffield United. But that's what is happening this afternoon, with both sides in need of points to move away from the relegation zone.
The big news earlier this week was David Weir's departure as Sheffield United manager. It didn't come as a huge surprise, but it's one that still resulted in the Blades board receiving plenty of criticism for ending the Scot's tenure after just 13 matches. It remains to be seen how the players will react in the aftermath of Weir's sacking.
The team news is in from Sixfields. If you can bare with me for just a few minutes, I will have that for you in full.
COVENTRY CITY XI: Murphy; Willis, Adams, Baker, Webster; Clarke, Moussa, Fleck, Thomas; Clarke, Wilson
COVENTRY CITY SUBSTITUTES: Manset, Burge, Barton, Daniels, Phillips, Garner, Haynes
SHEFFIELD UNITED XI: Long; Westlake, Maguire, Hill, Flynn; Doyle, Baxter, Collins, Coady; King, Brandy
SHEFFIELD UNITED SUBSTITUTES: Howard, Hall, Taylor, McGinn, Lappin, Murphy, Ironside
It's still early in the season, but both clubs will have an eye on the match that is taking place at Valley Parade this afternoon between Bradford City and Tranmere Rovers, with the visitors currently occupying bottom position in the league. It is currently goalless with just a few seconds remaining until the whistle for half time.
PREDICTION! Coventry may be sitting in 20th position, but if they didn't incur the 10-point penalty, they would find themselves in eighth place, and it's that kind of form that makes them the clear favourites to win this afternoon. However, Sheffield United will undoubtedly carry a threat with Marlon King and Febian Brandy in attack. I'm going for 2-1 to Coventry.
We are almost ready to get underway at Sixfields, with the crowd continuing to grow in...and out of the stadium. Some of the Coventry supporters are taking their position on a bank outside the ground in protest of being moved from the Ricoh Arena to the home of Northampton Town.
Coventry City get us underway.
Coventry earn an early corner, but George Long, who is currently part of the England Under-21 squad, comes and claims the ball with ease.
There is so much water on the Sixfields pitch. I don't think the match was ever under threat, but every slide tackle is being accompanied by plenty of water raising from the surface.
GOAL! Coventry City 1-0 Sheffield United (Clarke)
What a stunning goal! Blair Adams made inroads down the left-hand side, and his lofted cross was converted on the volley into the bottom corner by Leon Clarke for his seventh goal of the season.
Sheffield United went straight up the other end and created a chance for Marlon King, but his header lacked power and went wide of the post. However, it's been all Coventry so far and they look intent on building on their advantage.
Some of Coventry's play is stunning at times. They are spraying the ball around at will, and a flowing move ends with Moussa heading the ball wide from a driven cross from the right.
Sheffield United earn a free kick on the left-hand side of the box after a foul by Clarke. The Blades send plenty of players forward, but the ball evades everyone, with Maguire just failing to make contact at the back post.
The early pace of the match has slowed, with both teams attempting to gain a foothold on possession. Sheffield United looked flustered at one stage, but they've responded well to going one behind.
Callum Wilson has some pace about him. He glids down the right before seeing his low cross well blocked by a defender. The visitors advance up the other end, but they are denied in similar fashion.
Coventry win a free kick on the right-hand side, and despite a poor delivery, the ball arrives at the feet of Conor Thomas, who sees his shot deflected over the crossbar. Nothing comes of the corner, with Sheffield United clearing easily.
The home side are beginning to find more gaps in the Sheffield United backline, and they are forced into a good block to prevent Wilson getting a shot in on goal. Sheffield United need a little bit of inspiration from somewhere.
Interesting call from referee Mike Dean, who looks to have blown the whistle too early with Leon Clarke looking to get into a threatening position. The former Wolverhampton Wanderers man would have fancied his chances of hitting the target in that situation.
Coventry have had plenty of joy from either flank, and another quality delivery into the box finds Clarke, but his header goes wide at the near post. Tranmere have gone ahead at Bradford, which could result in Sheffield United ending the day at the foot of the table.
GOAL! Coventry City 2-0 Sheffield United (Wilson)
What was I just saying about Coventry doing well down the flanks? Carl Baker skillfully maneuvered his way past a couple of defenders before pulling the ball back for Callum Wilson to fire the ball into the top corner from 12 yards.
The Sheffield United supporters have been making plenty of noise behind the goal, but that Wilson goal has sucked the life out of them. It's hard to see their side coming back into this.
BOOKING! Andy Webster has got a little lucky there. Baxter looked as though he was about to break clear of the defender, but the Scot got back before pulling the shirt of the former Everton man. It could have been a red card, but a covering defender was just about close enough to deem that Webster wasn't the last player.
If he was a little lucky a few minutes ago, he is extremely fortunate this time around. Webster slides in on Brandy, and all things considered, it should be a second yellow card, but Mike Dean has opted to give him a final warning.
SUBSTITUTION! Sheffield United have made a change, bringing on Lyle Taylor for Jose Baxter. No word as yet about a potential injury.
CHANCE! We are nearing the half-time whistle, and Coventry should arguably be 3-0 ahead. Wilson played in the advancing Clarke, but the striker could only drive the ball over the bar from 10 yards. Decent chance.
BOOKING! Mike Dean has another big decision to make, and he has probably got this right. Maguire went sliding in on Wilson when he was the last man, but the forward probably kicked the ball too far in front of him for it to be considered a goalscoring opportunity. There will be two minutes of added-on time.
HALF TIME: Coventry City 2-0 Sheffield United
Mike Dean blows his whistle, and Coventry go into the break with a 2-0 advantage. They've fully deserved their lead, and the Sky Blues should arguably be further in front of a side who looked devoid of any confidence.
The stats for the first half back up how dominant Coventry have been for the majority of the opening 45 minutes. The home side had 10 shots to Sheffield United's four, while they also held onto the ball for 60% of the time.
There's not really much that Sheffield United can do to turn things around, other than improve in all areas of the pitch. They could go do with getting Marlon King involved in the penalty area, because the former Birmingham City forward has rarely threatened.
The two teams are beginning to emerge for the second half.
Sheffield United get us underway. Can they make any inroads in the opening 15 minutes?
It's a bright start from the Blades, with Brandy looking inventive in midfield. However, after managing to get the ball to Coady, the on-loan Liverpool man sends the ball out for a throw-in.
GOAL! Coventry City 3-0 Sheffield United (Clarke)
The front two for Coventry have made it look so easy this afternoon, and they combine again to put the result to bed. Wilson held up the ball before playing the ball into the stride of Clarke, who moved past the defender before placing the ball past Long from 12 yards.
Sheffield United have looked so poor at the back. Despite their status as one of the biggest clubs in the division, they look to be in trouble in League One and it's difficult to see where they can turn to change the mood at Bramall Lane.
CHANCE! Finally, some encouragement for the Sheffield United fans. An excellent move results in Brandy cutting inside to see a shot blocked by Murphy. The Blades supporters respond with a chant of "attack, attack, attack!". King has been withdrawn for McGinn.
The visitors have looked much better over the past five minutes, but they can't force a goal after three corners in succession. They earn a free kick on the edge of the area after Coady is upended.
GOAL! Coventry City 3-1 Sheffield United (Taylor)
Now then, what do we have here? Substitute Lyle Taylor lines up the set piece and he thunders the ball through the wall and past Murphy. Moments after the goal, Flynn is denied by a super save from Murphy. It's all happening!
SUBSTITUTION! Coventry boss Steven Pressley decides that he needs to do something under this United barrage, and he opts to bring on Billy Daniels for Carl Baker, who is currently working his way back to full fitness.
CHANCE! Sheffield United could have potentially been level in this match. McGinn delivers a corner into the box and it's met by Coady, but his header goes harmlessly over the bar.
CHANCE! Moments after almost seeing their lead reduced to just the one goal, Clarke should have wrapped the match up for the home side after breaking clear of the Blades defence. However, his shot is too close to Long, who pulls off a terrific one-handed save.
CHANCE! Conor Coady, how have you missed that?! Westlake curls a ball to the back post, but the onrushing midfielder headed over from no more than three yards. It's incredible to think that Sheffield United should be level here!
BOOKING! Just before that opportunity, Jordan Willis was booked for crudely taking out Brandy.
There's just 10 minutes remaining at Sixfields, and Sheffield United certainly aren't giving this up just yet. One more goal would make this very interesting.
GOAL! Coventry City 3-2 Sheffield United (Murphy)
Unbelievable. We are in for a humdinger of a last 10 minutes. Substitute Ryan Hall swung the ball in from the right for Taylor to get inbetween two defenders to head into the bottom corner!
OUCH! We have a worrying situation at Sixfields. Joe Murphy raced out from his goal to deal with a high ball, but after winning the header, he fell heavily on his back and neck. It's an horrendous fall.
Murphy is back on his feet, but he looks shaken. He can count himself extremely fortunate that he wasn't seriously injured. He was on the deck for nearly four minutes.
BOOKING! Blair Adams has been booked for Coventry, but I'm not sure what for. Sheffield United are continuing to push, but the Sky Blues are standing firm.
BOOKING! Michael Doyle is the next man into the book for a mis-timed challenge in midfield. I've lost count how many we have had in this match. We are awaiting the fourth official's board to see how much time will be added on.
There will be six minutes of added-on time.
The Blades are pressing big style, and McGinn comes close to netting a dramatic equaliser with a header, but it is well dealt with by Murphy.
CHANCE! Coventry miss two chances to seal the three points. Firstly, Clarke's effort is cleared off the line after he had rounded the goalkeeper, before Fleck saw the rebound deflected over for a corner.
FULL TIME: Coventry City 3-2 Sheffield United
It's all over at Sixfields, and Coventry City have managed to hold on to their lead, despite a spirited comeback from Sheffield United. The home side dominated the opening hour, before the Blades struck back, but it was all too little too late.
Sheffield United can take a lot from that second-half display, but after Tranmere defeated Bradford earlier today, they are now bottom of the League One table.
That will be all from Sports Mole for this match. Thank you for joining us, and we hope to see you again for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers on Tuesday. Goodbye for now.
Written by
Darren Plant
Darren Plant
