Team news

Blades blunted by Stewart blow Sheffield United are reeling from yet another injury blow with the news Jordan Stewart has suffered a season-ending knee injury.

Stewart, who has partially ruptured his cruciate ligament, is the latest in a long list of first-team squad members to sustain serious injury this season.

Defenders Gary Naysmith, Derek Geary and Ryan France have all missed most of the campaign due to knee injuries, Henri Camara (groin) and Ched Evans (broken collarbone) are unlikely to feature again this season and Jamie Ward (hamstring) and Toni Kallio (calf) are also long-term absentees.

Naysmith came through 75 minutes for the reserves unscathed in midweek but is not expected to be ready to return.

Manager Kevin Blackwell, who has no other new injury or suspension worries, could recall Glenn Little, Kyle Bartley and Mark Yeates, with all three unlucky to miss out in Monday night's defeat at Newcastle.

The Blades are chasing their first win in six matches and have only won one of their last nine in the Championship.

Chris Coleman has received mixed injury news ahead of Coventry`s trip to Bramall Lane.

On-loan striker Jonathan Stead has discovered he requires a cartilage operation while midfielder Gary Deegan must also go under the knife to repair ankle ligament damage, ending their respective seasons with four games remaining.

However, Coleman will be able to call upon the services of attacking duo Freddy Eastwood and Michael McIndoe.

Eastwood missed both of Coventry`s games over the Easter period with a back complaint while McIndoe has been sidelined with back/hip problems since the defeat to Cardiff on March 16.

Sheff Utd vs Coventry

Last modified 17:27 19/04/10

Creswell lifts Blades Richard Cresswell's second-half strike secured Sheffield United their first Coca-Cola Championship win in six matches and condemned Coventry to a third straight defeat.

Blades striker Cresswell swept home Glenn Little's cross two minutes after the interval for the only goal of the game, but victory has done little to resurrect the South Yorkshire side's play-off chances.

Kevin Blackwell's side began the day nine points adrift of the top six after winning only one of their previous nine league games and this encounter against another team struggling for form - Coventry are without a win in their last eight matches - provided limited entertainment for a crowd of 23,603.

Coventry, whose last success was at relegated Peterborough on March 6, raised their game after falling behind but failed to carve out any clear-cut chances.

Little and on-loan Derby defender Paul Connolly were recalled by United manager Kevin Blackwell and Scotland international Gary Naysmith, yet to appear for the Blades this season after two long-term knee injuries, returned to the substitutes' bench.

Martin Cranie, Richard Wood and Carl Baker were all back for Coventry.

The Blades had only two headers from Darius Henderson to show for their early dominance, the first flying wide and the second comfortably held by Coventry goalkeeper Keiren Westwood.

Little's shot from inside the penalty was then blocked by visiting defender Leon Barnett, but there was little else to excite the Bramall Lane crowd in the first period.

Coventry had to wait until the 31st minute before Clinton Morrison headed their first chance straight at home goalkeeper Steve Simonsen, while Blades striker Richard Cresswell's similar effort from Little's corner was comfortably held by Westwood.

United stepped it up towards the break, with Andy Taylor firing straight at Westwood and Henderson volleying wide from 25 yards before City striker Freddie Sears' overhead kick was easily snaffled by Simonsen.

Westwood saved easily from Blades defender Chris Morgan's far-post header just before the interval, but the home crowd were given some cheer two minutes after the restart.

Little broke clear down the right and his fine ball into the penalty area picked out Cresswell, who swept the ball home into the top corner from 12 yards.

Blades midfielder Stephen Quinn's volley was then blocked and Little pulled his shot wide from inside the area.

The visitors responded and Coventry's Sammy Clingan curled a 25-yard free-kick inches over the crossbar, Baker forced Simonsen to hold his drive from outside the area and Wood headed just wide from a corner.

Eastwood, with a right-footed volley from 20 yards, and Clingan, from inside the area, peppered the Blades goal as the visitors pressed for an equaliser, but failed to seriously trouble Simonsen.