Coventry City 4-1 Sheffield United: Callum O'Hare scores twice in Sky Blues win

Callum O'Hare celebrates a goal for Coventry against Sheffield UnitedImage source, Rex Features
Image caption,

O'Hare scored twice for Coventry to mark his century of starts for the team

Two goals from Callum O'Hare helped Coventry City keep their hopes of reaching the Championship play-offs alive with a 4-1 win over in-form Sheffield United.

Sander Berge opened the scoring for the Blades, but Viktor Gyokeres got in behind the defence to quickly equalise for the home side.

O'Hare then put the Sky Blues ahead early in the second half, before adding a second just seven minutes later.

O'Hare then set up Matty Godden, who wrapped up the victory with Coventry's fourth goal of the day.

The win means Coventry move up to 10th, three points behind Sheffield United in fifth place.

Other than league leaders Fulham, Sheffield United have been the in-form team of the Championship having only lost once in their previous 12 matches to storm into the top six.

Coventry, by contrast, had lost their two previous games and were without manager Mark Robins and assistant manager Adi Viveash, who both tested positive for Covid-19 prior to kick-off.

After scoring in the midweek win over Middlesbrough, Norwegian Berge took only 16 minutes to put the visitors ahead with a header from close range from a long throw-in.

However, Coventry's top scorer Gyokeres quickly brought the Sky Blues level with his 14th goal of the season, when a long ball came in over the top and he got the better of Wes Foderingham to score in the bottom corner.

With both teams chasing the play-off places and the three points, it remained open. Conor Hourihane sent a half-volley wide for United, Gyokeres and Gustavo Hamer both forced Foderingham into making saves, while a shot from O'Hare skimmed the bar.

Coventry continued to push for a goal after the restart and Gyokeres found himself in another one-on-one with Foderingham. While his shot ricocheted off the post, it eventually fell to O'Hare who bundled it into the net.

The 23-year-old marked his 100th start for Coventry with his second to put them 3-1 up, this time from a tight angle thanks to another Gyokeres assist. And less than 10 minutes later he was involved again, squaring the ball to Godden to add the fourth.

Morgan Gibbs-White and Billy Sharp both saw chances go begging for Sheffield United, while Coventry substitute Martyn Waghorn hit the post deep in injury time.

Coventry City first-team coach Dennis Lawrence told BBC CWR:

"I think the first and foremost most important thing is the gaffer and Adi have a good recovery because we know how this Covid thing works, it affects people in different ways.

"In majority the preparation was done in the build-up to the game, so it was more or less for me to reinforce everything that we wanted to do today.

"The players were outstanding, they really responded going a goal down against a very, very good team. It was pleasing - it was pleasing for the fans, and it was pleasing for the players and I'm sure the manager and Adi will be very, very proud of them."

Sheffield United boss Paul Heckingbottom told BBC Radio Sheffield:

"We can have no complaints in terms of performance. Coventry were better than us, they defended better than us, they attacked better than us and that's why they got the win.

"If you're off it slightly in the Championship you know you can come unstuck and Coventry were excellent today.

"I think they pose teams a lot of problems even when they don't get the results with how they play, they put the ball forward early, make you defend it and then they've got bright players in and around your box.

"Having said that, the nature of the goals we conceded was terrible. Regardless of how well someone's played, the nature of the goals we conceded was really bad."

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