Sheffield United 1 - 0 Coventry: Sheffield United boss Nigel Adkins lauds resolute Blades following Coventry win

Posted Sunday, December 13, 2015 by PA

Sheffield United manager Nigel Adkins hailed his side's resilience following their 1-0 win at home to second-placed Coventry.

United substitute Billy Sharp scored the only goal of the game with a scrappy effort late on.

The result sees the Blades move up to 11th in the Sky Bet League one table, nine points behind a Coventry side who had been unbeaten in the league since September.

Adkins said: "We played against a very good footballing side and we had a game-plan. The lads worked very hard and we were solid, resolute and committed, which is great to see.

"The players were disciplined and organised. We want to be competitive and there is a resilience about the players.

"We want to be attack-minded, especially at home, but we've been punished before when teams have caught us on the counter-attack so we need to be nice and solid. We want to have that platform of being hard to beat and keep clean sheets."

The match-winning goal came 11 minutes from time when a corner from Paul Coutts was missed by keeper Reice Charles-Cook and the ball appeared to go in off Sharp's shoulder.

Adkins added: "Sharpy comes off the bench and scores from a set-play. I've got great belief in Billy. Sometimes you got make a change and I left Billy out of the starting line-up, knowing that he will score goals for us."

In a first half when chances were at a premium, Coventry's Adam Armstrong had a low shot well saved by George Long following a fine through-ball from Ruben Lameiras.

Ben Turner also threatened for the visitors, having a shot blocked and then putting the rebound over.

Long was forced to make another fine save early in the second half, tipping a volley from Lameiras over the bar, before the United keeper went close to spilling the ball over the line following Jacob Murphy's effort.

Coventry could not make the breakthrough though, and to compound the visitors' misery they had skipper Sam Ricketts sent off in stoppage-time when he received a second yellow card for a reckless challenge on Chris Basham.

Coventry manager Tony Mowbray said: "You've got to take your opportunities when they come along. It wasn't a game with lots of chances.

"The boys were saying in the dressing room that the ball was definitely over the line (Murphy shot). Joe Cole span away celebrating when he probably could have put it in himself.

"The referee had a difficult day. He got some right and he got some wrong so we have to accept that.

"The nature of the goal we conceded was frustrating. It's always disappointing and frustrating to concede a goal from a corner-kick. Reice has decided to come for the ball and missed it. It happens and I'm not sure whether the boy who scored knew much about it.

"Credit to them because I thought they set up well and defended well. We have to take it on the chin and move on to the next one."