Sheffield United squandered the chance to make a real statement in the race for the play-offs as some sloppy defending saw them lose 2-1 to leaders Coventry City at Bramall Lane tonight. The Blades were the better side in the first half and good value for their lead through Harrison Burrows.
But City hit back quickly when Haji Wright shot through a crowd of bodies and past Michael Cooper and Frank Lampard’s side then went ahead when Jack Rudoni ghosted between United’s centre halves and nodded Ephron Mason-Clark’s deflected cross home.
United had two penalty appeals turned down in each half, Seriki going down under Mason-Clark’s challenge in the first before sub Tyrese Campbell was booked for apparent simulation despite replays suggesting contact from defender Bobby Thomas.
Here’s how we rated United’s players on the night...
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1. Sheffield United ratings v Coventry City
Sheffield United ratings v Coventry City | UGC
2. Michael Cooper 5
Barely had a touch of the ball before he was beaten twice in the space of a few minutes and he may feel he could have done a little better with the first, although Wright's effort did come through a crowd of bodies before squirming through the United goalkeeper. Cooper had to be alert to palm away a well-struck effort from Rudoni which was heading towards the bottom corner | UGC Photo: UGC
3. Femi Seriki 5
Looked lively down the right from an attacking perspective early on but his first huge contribution came from some superb defensive work at the back post, to prevent Wright from opening the scoring with a tap-in after van Ewijk found space down the right and produced a dangerous cross. He was then involved in the real talking point of the first half when he had Mason-Clark on toast again with a clever move and then went down under the Coventry man's challenge in the opposition box. But ref Busby said no and intriguingly didn't book Seriki for diving, which was perhaps a suggestion that there was contact but not enough of it? The right-back then couldn't get close enough to Wright to prevent him dragging the Sky Blues level soon after Burrows' deflected opener, and was then caught out of position for their winner. Made way for Hoever | UGC Photo: UGC
4. Japhet Tanganga 4
Booked early on after a coming-together with Mason-Clark carried on after a United corner was cleared and had to be alert to the danger not long after to boot clear after Rudoni broke clear on goal and looked to square into the middle for a tap-in. The United skipper should have done better with a free header he was presented with right on the stroke of half-time and then the Blades' defence couldn't get close enough to Wright or Mason-Clark as they turned the game on its head with two quick second-half goals | UGC Photo: UGC