Coventry v Sheff Utd: Low-scoring affair likely as Blades show new steel

Sheffield United head to Coventry’s “home” of Sixfields later this afternoon looking to halt an alarming League One slide that this week cost the job of manager David Weir.

Under-21 coach Chris Morgan will take temporary charge, following the decision to relieve Weir of his duties on Friday after only four months and 13 games in charge.

After an opening day 2-1 home victory over Notts County, Weir would not taste a league victory again as he could only watch his side slump to 22nd in League One following nine further games without a win.

The pressure came to a head on Tuesday, however, following a humiliating Johnstone’s Paint Trophy defeat at the hands of League Two strugglers Hartlepool. With Weir refusing to throw in the towel, the Sheffield United board did it for him, axing the former Everton reserve boss and his assistant Lee Carsley.

Today’s opponents Coventry are enjoying a more fruitful season under Weir’s former Hearts teammate Steven Pressley, having picked up 17 points in their ten games so far, a haul that should see them sniffing around the play-off spots.

As it stands, their ten-point pre-season penalty for entering administration provides the rather peculiar scenario that could see the visitors overhaul the Sky Blues with a win today, at 3/1.

Given the usual reaction of sides following a managerial sacking, such a result is not entirely unlikely, although the home side remain clear 10/11 favourites.

Instead the best bet looks like being backing a low-scoring encounter. United have found the net only six times all season, while a previously free-scoring Coventry side have netted only once in their last three games in all competitions. With United likely to set up to frustrate and pinch a respectable point, it’s not likely to be a high-scoring encounter.

These sides have drawn on three of their last four meetings, while only once in their last six has a game produced more than two goals. The draw therefore looks well priced at 12/5, with the pick of the bunch being the draw and under 2.5 goals to be scored in match, at 33/10.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.