Why stand-in Coventry City boss is backing Sheffield United for promotion push despite 4-1 hammering

The Blades, looking to build on their midweek hammering of Middlesbrough, were instead on the wrong end of the same scoreline against play-off outsiders City, despite going ahead early on through Sander Berge.

A mixture of poor defending and ruthless attacking saw City run out deserved and convincing winners, with only a string of good saves from United goalkeeper Wes Foderingham preventing the result being worse from a Blades perspective.

And Lawrence, City’s first-team coach who was thrust into overall control this morning after manager Mark Robins and No.2 Adi Viveash tested positive for Covid-19, said: “The most important thing is that the gaffer and Adi have a good recovery.

Blades player ratings from sorry defeat at Coventry

“Most of the match prep was done and it was up to me to just reinforce it. The players responded well to going 1-0 down to a very, very good team and I’m sure the gaffer and Adi will be very proud of the players.

“The manager said: ‘You’re on the touchline, you feel it and go with your gut feeling’.”

United had a good recent defensive record before kick-off, which was smashed by goals from Viktor Gyökeres, Matt Godden and a brace from Callum O’Hare.

“That’s football for you,” Lawrence added.

“I said to the players before the game, if we put in the performance hopefully the result follows and I thought to a man they did that.

“We could have done better with the goal but showed strength of character against a very, very, very good team who I believe will be there or thereabouts when it comes to the play offs.”

United remain fifth despite the defeat, but two of their play-off rivals in Luton Town and Queens Park Rangers face each other tomorrow and manager Paul Heckingbottom admitted his side were well-beaten against the better side.

“We’ve spoken about it in the dressing room,” Heckingbottom said. “It’s not finger pointing, just what we can do better.”

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