Coventry City key figure delivers frank verdict on Sheffield United’s play-off hopes after hammering

Coventry City stand-in boss Dennis Lawrence believes yesterday’s opponents Sheffield United will still be in and around the top six at the end of this term despite seeing his side hammer the Blades 4-1 yesterday afternoon, speaking to Coventry Live after the game.

The visitors at the CBS Arena looked set to be on course for another victory after their own 4-1 hammering of Middlesbrough in midweek, with Sander Berge putting his team 1-0 up in the 16th minute.

However, they conceded just four minutes later through Viktor Gyokeres, managing to get to half-time at 1-1 but failing to build on their opener after the break.

Instead, it was the hosts that ran away with the game with Callum O’Hare’s brace and Matt Godden’s strike providing the Blades with a brutal scoreline in the West Midlands, a considerable shock after recording such a comfortable win against Boro.

It was also a shock because of how effective they have been in getting points on the board under current manager Paul Heckingbottom, tightening up at the back after reverting to a back three and forcing their way back into promotion contention.

Despite this setback though, the 44-year-old’s opposite number on the day was optimistic about United’s chances of remaining in the race to get back to the Premier League.

Speaking to Coventry Live, Lawrence said: “I said to the boys before the game that if they put in the performance then hopefully the result will follow, and today to a man, I thought they put in a performance.

“We were disappointed to go a goal down but we will look at it and do better in how we set up and deal with it, but we showed that strength of character to come back and win against a very good team who I think will be there or thereabouts when it’s