Head-to-Head: Coventry City

Last updated : 11 October 2013 By @blades_mad1889

Both United and City have a long heritage but it wasn't until 1936 when Coventry won promotion from the Southern section of the old Third Division (as Champions) that the two Cities met one another in the Football League. The first ever professional meeting took place on 28 November and the game was drawn 2-2 at Bramall Lane before City won on 3rd April by two goals to nil at their former Highfield Road ground.

The Blades claimed their first ever victory over the Sky Blues in their third face-to-face on Christmas Day 1937 - winning 3-2 at the Lane which put them top of the league and between then and 1952 the red and white of Sheffield would go nine (six wins and three draws) games unbeaten and during this run in 1949/50 United would claim their biggest victory over City by winning 4-2.

Between 1967 and 1994 any meetings between the two sides became top flight issues, though there was a brief period of absence on United's part between 1976 and 1990. It was on Boxing Day 1991 that City recorded their biggest victory over the Blades (3-0). Then City manager Terry Butcher was quoted saying; ``I would give up all my Christmas presents for a win at Sheffield United," and it must have been a 'Merry Christmas' in the Butcher household as his team netted three times in 17 minutes to storm into a three goal lead.

No head to head statistics could go a-miss without mentioning the FA Cup battles of 1997/98 where the Blades lost in the semi-finals to Newcastle United (1-0) at Old Trafford. It was during this glorious cup-run that saw United drawn against Coventry City in the Quarter-Finals stage - City was an established Premier League outfit whilst United were competing in the Second Division for the third season running. City was expected to put an end to any advances in the cup at Highfield Road but under interim manager Steve Thompson United were battlers.

The hosts had unexpectedly taken a late first half lead when Dion Dublin netted from the penalty spot but United came out with assurance in the second half and equalised through Brazilian born striker Marcelo who famously celebrated by ripping off his shirt and launching it into the United crowed only to reveal another shirt underneath, he must have known his chance would come. Towards the death the Blades had a chance to steal the tie but after Petr Katchouro had rounded Steve Ogrizovic he failed to put it into the net at a tight angle.

And so a replay at Bramall Lane was played out and in dramatic fashion! Expectedly it was the top flight side who took the lead when future Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Trond-Egil Soltvedt was fouled 35 yards from goal after only 10 minutes. He picked himself up and his low drive found the net and United, despite a number of attempts on goal left it late when a last ditch assault on the City goal - in front of the kop end saw a swinging volley turned home from defender David Holdsworth. Extra-Time prevailed and without any more goals the game went to penalties with the Blades (and hero Alan Kelly) winning 3-1 on spot kicks, it was truly another memorable night at the Lane which will surely never to be forgotten.

The League One battles of 2012-13 season were the first time that this fixture took place outside of the top two Divisions of English Football, in all they met three times that season having met also in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy at the Northern Quarter-Final stage.

They first met at the Ricoh Arena on 21 August, drawing 1-1 - though fell behind when Coventry scored through Stephen Elliott (62 minutes but made amends minutes from time through Nick Blackman (84) to score his first league goal for the club. They last met at the Ricoh (before switching to Sixfields) in the JPT on 4 December, a Harry Maguire own goal (58) gave the hosts the lead until David McAllister (81) sprung up with an equaliser and with the scores level at 90 minutes under competition rules a straight penalty shoot-out was played out with United on the losing end; City winning 4-1.

On 1 February City won at Bramall Lane by two goals to one; United thought they had drawn the match level when Dave Kitson (72) headed home in the second half to cancel out Leon Clarke's (14 & 87) first time effort but the former Sheffield Wednesday striker pounced again to net the winner and leave United clinging onto that last play-off spot.

Previous Match Reports:

10 Aug 2002 - Coventry City 2 Blades 1
28 Dec 2002 - Blades 0 Coventry City 0
30 Aug 2003 - Blades 2 Coventry City 1
26 Dec 2003 - Coventry City 0 Blades 1
25 Sep 2004 - Blades 1 Coventry City 1
26 Dec 2004 - Coventry City 1 Blades 2
27 Aug 2005 - Blades 2 Coventry City 1
11 Mar 2006 - Coventry City 2 Blades 0
01 Dec 2007 - Coventry City 0 Blades 1
11 Mar 2008 - Blades 2 Coventry City 1
16 Sep 2008 - Blades 1 Coventry City 1
04 Mar 2009 - Coventry City 1 Blades 2
15 Sep 2009 - Coventry City 3 Blades 2
10 Apr 2010 - Blades 1 Coventry City 0
30 Oct 2010 - Blades 0 Coventry City 1
15 Jan 2011 - Coventry City 0 Blades 0
21 Aug 2012 - Coventry City 1 Blades 1
04 Dec 2012 - Coventry City 1 Blades (JPT)
01 Feb 2013 - Blades 1 Coventry City 2

At Sheff. Utd. (27) At Coventry City (28)
Results Total %   Results Total %
Sheff. Utd. 10 37.04   Coventry City 10 35.71
Coventry City

8

29.63

  Sheff. Utd.

8

28.57

Draws 9 33.33   Draws 10 35.71
Goals Total Av.pg   Goals Total Av.pg
Sheff. Utd. 29 1.07   Coventry City 40 1.43
Coventry City 25 0.93   Sheff. Utd. 36 1.29
On Neutral Ground (0) Overall (55 matches)
Results Total %   Results Total %
Sheff. Utd. 0 0.00   Sheff. Utd. 18 32.73
Coventry City 0 0.00   Coventry City 18 32.73
Draws 0 0.00   Draws 19 34.55
Goals Total Av.pg   Goals Total Av.pg
Sheff. Utd. 0 0.00   Sheff. Utd. 65 1.18
Coventry City 0 0.00   Coventry City 65 1.18

Records
Highest Aggregate 6 Coventry City  2 - 4 Sheff. Utd. 1949/1950 
Highest Sheff. Utd. score: 4 Coventry City  2 - 4 Sheff. Utd. 1949/1950 
Highest Coventry City score: 3 Sheff. Utd.  0 - 3 Coventry City 1991/1992 

SeasonDateHomeScoreAwayCompetition
2012/2013 Fri 01 Feb Sheff. Utd. 1 - 2 Coventry City League One  
  Tue 04 Dec Coventry City 1 - 1 Sheff. Utd. (Associate Members)  
Coventry City won 4-1 on penalties
  Tue 21 Aug Coventry City 1 - 1 Sheff. Utd. League One  
2010/2011 Sat 15 Jan Coventry City 0 - 0 Sheff. Utd. Championship  
  Sat 30 Oct Sheff. Utd. 0 - 1 Coventry City Championship  
2009/2010 Sat 10 Apr Sheff. Utd. 1 - 0 Coventry City Championship  
  Tue 15 Sep Coventry City 3 - 2 Sheff. Utd. Championship  
2008/2009 Wed 04 Mar Coventry City 1 - 2 Sheff. Utd. Championship  
  Tue 16 Sep Sheff. Utd. 1 - 1 Coventry City Championship  
2007/2008 Tue 11 Mar Sheff. Utd. 2 - 1 Coventry City Championship  
  Sat 01 Dec Coventry City 0 - 1 Sheff. Utd. Championship  
2005/2006 Sat 11 Mar Coventry City 2 - 0 Sheff. Utd. Championship  
  Sat 27 Aug Sheff. Utd. 2 - 1 Coventry City Championship  
2004/2005 Sun 26 Dec Coventry City 1 - 2 Sheff. Utd. Championship  
  Sat 25 Sep Sheff. Utd. 1 - 1 Coventry City Championship  
2003/2004 Fri 26 Dec Coventry City 0 - 1 Sheff. Utd. League Division One  
  Sat 30 Aug Sheff. Utd. 2 - 1 Coventry City League Division One  
2002/2003 Sat 28 Dec Sheff. Utd. 0 - 0 Coventry City League Division One  
  Sat 10 Aug Coventry City 2 - 1 Sheff. Utd. League Division One  
2001/2002 Wed 06 Mar Coventry City 1 - 0 Sheff. Utd. League Division One  
  Sat 15 Sep Sheff. Utd. 0 - 1 Coventry City League Division One  
1997/1998 Tue 17 Mar Sheff. Utd. 1 - 1 Coventry City F.A. Cup  
after extra time, 90 minutes 1-1, Sheffield United won 3-1 on penalties
  Sat 07 Mar Coventry City 1 - 1 Sheff. Utd. F.A. Cup  
1993/1994 Sat 12 Feb Sheff. Utd. 0 - 0 Coventry City Premiership  
  Sun 31 Oct Coventry City 0 - 0 Sheff. Utd. Premiership  
1992/1993 Wed 24 Mar Coventry City 1 - 3 Sheff. Utd. Premier League  
  Sat 28 Nov Sheff. Utd. 1 - 1 Coventry City Premier League  
1991/1992 Thu 26 Dec Sheff. Utd. 0 - 3 Coventry City First Division  
  Wed 28 Aug Coventry City 3 - 1 Sheff. Utd. First Division  
1990/1991 Sat 04 May Coventry City 0 - 0 Sheff. Utd. First Division  
  Sat 27 Oct Sheff. Utd. 0 - 1 Coventry City First Division  
1975/1976 Sat 10 Jan Coventry City 1 - 0 Sheff. Utd. First Division  
  Sat 13 Sep Sheff. Utd. 0 - 1 Coventry City First Division  
1974/1975 Fri 28 Mar Coventry City 2 - 2 Sheff. Utd. First Division  
  Fri 20 Dec Sheff. Utd. 1 - 0 Coventry City First Division  
1973/1974 Sat 06 Apr Sheff. Utd. 0 - 1 Coventry City First Division  
  Sat 24 Nov Coventry City 3 - 1 Sheff. Utd. First Division  
1972/1973 Sat 21 Apr Sheff. Utd. 3 - 1 Coventry City First Division  
  Sat 18 Nov Coventry City 3 - 0 Sheff. Utd. First Division  
1971/1972 Tue 18 Apr Coventry City 3 - 2 Sheff. Utd. First Division  
  Sat 13 Nov Sheff. Utd. 2 - 0 Coventry City First Division  
1967/1968 Sat 23 Dec Sheff. Utd. 2 - 0 Coventry City First Division  
  Sat 26 Aug Coventry City 2 - 2 Sheff. Utd. First Division  
1951/1952 Sat 26 Jan Sheff. Utd. 1 - 2 Coventry City Second Division  
  Sat 22 Sep Coventry City 1 - 1 Sheff. Utd. Second Division  
1950/1951 Sat 21 Apr Coventry City 2 - 3 Sheff. Utd. Second Division  
  Sat 02 Dec Sheff. Utd. 2 - 0 Coventry City Second Division  
1949/1950 Sat 17 Dec Sheff. Utd. 1 - 1 Coventry City Second Division  
  Sat 20 Aug Coventry City 2 - 4 Sheff. Utd. Second Division  
1938/1939 Sat 29 Apr Coventry City 0 - 3 Sheff. Utd. Second Division  
  Mon 29 Aug Sheff. Utd. 0 - 0 Coventry City Second Division  
1937/1938 Mon 27 Dec Coventry City 2 - 2 Sheff. Utd. Second Division  
  Sat 25 Dec Sheff. Utd. 3 - 2 Coventry City Second Division  
1936/1937 Sat 03 Apr Coventry City 2 - 0 Sheff. Utd. Second Division  
  Sat 28 Nov Sheff. Utd. 2 - 2 Coventry City Second Division