SHEFFIELD UNITED 1-2 COVENTRY CITY
Murphy, Baker, McSheffrey (Fleck 73), Jennings, Elliott (Thomas 69), Clarke, Christie, Wood, Edjenguele, Moussa, Adams. Subs: Clarke, Cameron, Dunn, Barton, Bell.
Sheff Utd: Long, Higginbotham, Maguire, Flynn, Doyle, Porter (Forte 54), McDonald, Kitson, Collins, Murphy (Robson 71), McMahon. Subs: Westlake, Cresswell, Ironside, Coyne, De Girolamo.
HT SUFC 0-1 CCFC FT SUFC 1-2 CCFC ATT 17,511
Goals Leon Clarke 13 & 86, Dave Kitson 72
Referee C.Sarginson . Booked McMahon, Kitson, Christie, McDonald
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Coventry City again put in a Jekyll and Hyde performance but Leon Clarke made sure that the Sky Blues left Sheffield United with a thrilling victory.
A nightmare journey of heavy traffic on the M1 and then searches meant that some of the 1477 strong City support including supporters from London, Newcastle, Cambridgeshire, Kent and the Midlands were still getting into the Bramall Lane ground as City in their yellow away kit took to the pitch.
The City team, which had Gary McSheffrey and Stephen Elliott back in the starting eleven faced a United side that included former Sky Blue Michael Doyle and their two new signings in Forte and Robson on the bench.
The noise from the City supporters in the Jessica Ennis stand was excellent and they saw Mark Robins side go straight on the attack with two corners in the sixth minute, which had to be headed away.
Two minutes later, Baker sent an Elliott cross over at the Kop end. This was followed by two more corners as the Sky Blues piled on the pressure.
Then, the City support went mental when as the pressure paid off when Stephen Elliott crossed and from six yards, Leon Clarke rammed in.
City deserved their 13th minute lead and should have gone further ahead seven minutes later when McSheffrey drove wide past a United keeper looking decidedly uncomfortable.
A 28th minute booking for McMahon gave City a free kick and twice it was hacked away and when The Blades did attack, their efforts were ere easily dealt with by a highly capable back four of Christie, Adams, Wood and the excellent Edjenguele or the capable Joe Murphy.
Steve Jennings again pulled the stings in midfield whilst Baker, McSheffrey, Elliott and Moussa all worked hard, tackling well and putting together some good passes.
It had been an excellent forty five minutes for the City players, the management team and the support but as with the Preston game, the second half was a different story.
The Unitedites in the crowd were still singing about greasy chip butties when Carl Baker delivered yet another cross at the start of the second half which had the home defence in trouble and Clarke had a header from a corner saved by Long as a rather portly home fan remonstrated with the City support.
However, United started to have more possession as the home fans finally found their voice.
Murphy was called into action in the 58th minute with a low save from Forte, mirrored by Long two minutes later when he got down to a Baker shot.
In the 67th minute, United had a penalty appeal waved away before Conor Thomas was sent on for the last twenty or so minutes. United boss Danny Wilson did the same with Barry Robson coming.
Robson's first action was to take a 72nd minute corner and he picked out the ginger hair of Dave Kitson, who powerfully headed home to level the match.
John Fleck replaced McSheffrey as United continued to have the play and the chances after a very poor effort from Leon Clarke had been squandered.
However, the next chance Leon Clarke got he made no mistake. Moussa attacked and had a shot from twenty yards out, which Long pushed right into the path of Leon Clarke who sparked wild scenes in the away end, by stroking into the net.
Some City fans were ejected for jumping onto the track behind Long’s goal and missed Thomas was denied by the legs of Long as was Fleck as City took another great away win, their eighth of the season.