COVENTRY CITY 3-2 SHEFFIELD UNITED
City: Murphy, J Clarke, J Willis (Phillips 77), Webster, Adams, Baker (c) (Daniels 67), Moussa (Barton 81), Fleck, Thomas, L Clarke, Wilson
Subs: Burge (GK), Manset, Barton, Garner, Haynes
Sheffield Utd: Long, Westlake, Maguire, Hill, Flynn (Hall 73), Doyle (c), Baxter (Taylor 41), Collins, Coady, King (McGinn 56), Brandy. Subs: Howard (GK), Lappin, Murphy, Ironside
HT CCFC 2-0 SUFC FT CCFC 3-2 SUFC ATT 2078
Goals Leon Clarke 6 & 49, Callum Wilson 32, Lyle Taylor 61 & 80
Referee Mike Dean
Booked Webster, McGuire, Wills, Adams, Doyle
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Coventry City beat Sheffield United 3-2 but were left to hang on after letting the visitors back in the game after being three goals up and cruising.
And this was the day that the world got their first look at the football club being held in captivity in Northampton by the club's owners who are continuing to hold the club to ransom until they get full charge of the Ricoh Arena.
With Coventry City Council and Arena Coventry Ltd refusing to deal with corporate terrorists which is basically the role of a hedge fund, this captivity means more trips to a Sixfields Stadium which should be getting the modernisation it badly needs next year for those who go in the ground or those who stand on the hill.
Whilst there was plenty going on in the Sky Blue world this week with Otium Entertainment Group avoiding possible jail by filing their accounts, the visitors Sheffield United had been completely unsporting and sacked their manager David Weir and former Sky Blue Lee Carsley two days ago.
Coach Chris Morgan, a lad I have had the pleasure of meeting at U21 games, took the Blades team and included former Sky Blues Michael Doyle and Marlon King, whilst Coventry City manager Steven Pressley, who had celebrated his 40th birthday this week, had captain Carl Baker back in midfield alongside Conor Thomas and Franck Moussa and John Fleck who had not converted penalties on Tuesday which had seen the Sky Blues go out of the Johnstones Paint Trophy at Leyton Orient.
With Kenny Jackett, Sean Dyche and Robert Page, who applied for the United job which was given to Weir, in the Main Stand and Mike Dean replacing the injured Kevin Friend as referee, it was a horrible wet afternoon as the teams came on to the pitch and held a minutes applause for young Ross Emslie before the game kicked off with Callum Wilson scoring a corner straight away.
The televising of this game meant that there was not as many City fans in the Main Stand or the stand behind the goal, with the club announcing a figure of 2078 and the police 1763 of which 950 were Sheffield United, which the Sky Blues defended for the first half.
There was a good turn out of 80 to 100 City and United fans on the hill and they had a good view of a great run by Blair Adams in City's new kit, very reminiscent of an old VS Rugby kit worn by the late Ian Crawley, which found the glove wearing Leon Clarke some twelve yards out. The forward made no mistake from twelve yards with a clinical finish and City were ahead in the sixth minute.
King headed wide and a City corner came to nothing before Moussa headed a Willis cross wide.
The City fans behind the goal gave King plenty of stick as he and the City defence watched a 14th minute Jose Baxter cross sail over Murphy's left hand post.
Andy Webster cleared an 18th minute corner and a Baker free kick five minutes later led to John Fleck taking a flag kick that was cleared for a throw.
In the 29th minute, Jordan Wilis found the lively Baker who crossed for Leon Clark to head wide.
Baker attacked down the right, two minutes later and he found Callum Wilson who lashed a superb shot past Long on his left hand side and into the net to give City a deserved 2-0 lead.
Clarke fired at the England U21 keeper as "Sky Blue Army" chants rang out from the City support.
Andy Webster went into the book in the 38th minute as the sun came out. But there was no need to worry as Baxter sent his free kick high into the stand. A minute later and it looked like Webster was heading for an early bath. Thankfully, Mr Dean did not lose the plot completely and gave the Scot a talking to for his “foul” which looked very harsh seeing as he had won the ball cleanly.
King's free kick went straight at Murphy who watched on as Leon Clarke missed when through in the 43rd minute and McGuire was booked for a foul on Wilson as an excellent half came to a close.
The 966 Blades fans had just sung:"We're not very good" and that was summed up in the 49th minute when a great ball from Franch Moussa played in Leon Clarke who stormed past his marker and beat Long with a superb shot into the bottom corner.
Morgan and his staff stood in a huddle looking perplexed as John Fleck and Blair Adams looked to get City going down the left.
In the 55th minute, the United fans were celebrating like they had scored when Febian Brandy got in a shot at Murphy's legs. Marlon King was then replaced as the visitors won three corners in very quick succession.
On the hour mark, United got a free kick for a foul by Willis. The City wall was not good and Kyle Taylor drove straight past Murphy to give the Blades some hope.
Things got a bit nervy with the away support able to lift their team and Murphy had to save from Flynn before the black track suited Steven Pressley decided on a change and replaced Carl Baker with Billy Daniels in the 67th minute.
The hardworking Conor Thomas, was adjudged to have committed a foul by Mr Dean and this gave United a 68th minute free kick which led to a corner.
Leon Clarke did well, a minute later from a Fleck pass but could not beat Long who was out to smother.
Morgan made his third change and Coady missed with a headed sitter, which was followed by Arron Phillips replacing Jordan Willis who had taken a knock.
Phillips, again made a cracking tackle straight away but in the 80th minute, Lyle Taylor scored a second with a header that went in on Murphy's right side to set up a grandstand finish.
Steven Pressley had just replaced Franck Moussa with Adam Barton when Joe Murphy was injured. The keeper needed treatment and even the club doctor was on hand but he continued.
Adams and Doyle joined the list of bookings as six minutes of stoppage time were announced. Thankfully, the defence led by Jordan Clarke held firm and City, kept the ball up the other end as they recorded another welcome win.
This match report is dedicated to the memory of Mark who died aged 39 on Saturday.