SHEFFIELD UTD 3
Hamer 19, Campbell 30, Brewster 62
COVENTRY CITY 1
Rudoni 90+1
Chris Wilder was as pleased as punch after Sheffield United swatted aside Coventry City to boost their promotion hopes.
Gus Hamer’s brilliant free-kick against his former club gave the Blades a first-half lead, and after Tyrese Campbell had put the Blades 2-0 up at half-time, Rhian Brewster slammed home the third, with Sky Blues sub Jack Rudoni grabbing a late consolation.
The Blades sealed their 10th win in their last 13 league matches to go top ahead of Leeds United’s match with Swansea City.
Afterwards, Wilder expressed his delight with the performance of his squad.
Outstanding
He said: “It’s a good night for us, yes.
“It was a good performance, a game of high quality, technical.
“The bit in between [the goals], it was give and take.
“Obviously, the goals will be talked about and quite rightly so.
“We’ve got some good players at the top of the pitch to counter and be clinical.
“I thought our third was an outstanding team goal.
“Then for 10 or 15 minutes we were rampant.
“But respect for Coventry, the run that they’ve been on, the players that they’ve got.
“So to win a game of football in the manner that we did, we can be very pleased with ourselves.”
CLASSY FINISH: Sheffield United’s Rhian Brewster scores their third goal against the Sky Blues
PICTURE: Alamy
Match action
The Blades carved out the first scoring chance, with Brewster’s goalbound effort well blocked by Jake Bidwell.
The home side then produced the first moment of quality to take the lead in the 19th minute.
Hamer picked himself up after being hauled down by Bobby Thomas 25 yards from goal and curled his free-kick over the wall and into keeper Oliver Dovin’s top left-hand corner.
United extended their lead in the 30th minute.
Hamza Choudhury and Femi Seriki combined down the right, and the latter’s low, drilled cross was deftly turned home by Campbell for his 10th league goal of the season.
Coventry were dealt another blow before the break when Dovin was carried off on a stretcher following Campbell’s challenge.
He was replaced by Brad Collins, whose superb reflex save from Campbell’s header denied the Blades a third goal in first-half stoppage time.
GLEE: The Blades’ Tyrese Campbell
Second half
Coventry began the second period with renewed purpose.
Victor Torp’s flick – the visitors’ first effort on target – and Haji Wright’s low drive were both held by Michael Cooper.
United extended their lead with their first chance since the interval.
Ben Brereton Diaz’s drive into the box scattered Coventry’s rearguard, and he teed up Brewster to sweep home the all-important third in the 62nd minute.
It was his fourth goal of the season.
Blades sub Callum O’Hare fired over, and there were also more clear chances for Sydie Peck and Choudhury.
Ben Sheaf’s thumping shot was blocked by Choudhury, and fellow subs Ellis Simms headed inches wide before Rudoni volleyed home for the visitors in added time following a corner.
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