Despite only two goals on show, the game was action packed with incidents and bizarre refereeing decisions. Sun Jihai received a straight red card after a lunge on Mifsud in the second half. Jay Tabb took the lead for the Sky Blues but Billy Sharp rescued United's blushes when he turned the ball past Westwood. Defender Elliot Ward also missed a spot-kick which would've completely changed the game.
Darius Henderson and Greg Halford were the two departures from the first team. Henderson picked up a knee ligament in training just before the game while Greg Halford was dropped for David Cotterill.
Clinton Morrison handled in the first two minutes. Coventry provided more challenges for United's defence when Jay Tabb's volley were caught comfortably by Paddy Kenny.
Eastwood drilled the ball fantastically just outside the area with Kenny having to parry the ball away. Both teams were then caught offside when Morrison and Beattie didn't beat the trap.
United looked nervous and began to concede a handful of free-kicks. Gary Speed's challenge on Leon McKenzie was penalised and he conceded the set-piece on the left-hand side. The resulting free-kick was easily caught by Kenny.
Coventry kept getting round the Blades backline with Kenny having to put his body on the line to provide some stunning saves. Gunnarsson's long-range effort was saved while the consequent Sky Blues attack lead to the United shot stopper to tip Jay Tabb's close ranger round the post.
The fans started to get onto the players backs with little entertainment and no impressive football being played. Gary Speed had United's first attempt on goal. This came in the 28th minute but the shot was well over the bar.
Freddy Eastwood threaded the ball through to Tabb who had space to drill the ball into the bottom right-hand corner in front of the densely travelled Coventry fans.
David Cotterill responded by blazing his shot at the defender with the Sky Blues' wall proving to be solid. Morrison tried the lob but didn't succeed in doing so with little time remaining in the first period.
Sharp's shot was yet again blocked, while Beattie's follow up went wide of the post. Boos greeted the referee back into the dressing rooms at half-time with many Unitedites believing Mr Deadman had a dreadful half.
The atmosphere had quietened but the Blades' supporters had to encourage their team to score an equaliser. Michael Mifsud replaced Leon McKenzie at half-time for Coventry.
And the Maltese international who were a rumoured target for United went surging past the Blades' defenders. Only Sun Jihai could catch up with him but he pulled down the striker in the area with the referee pointing to the spot.
Centre-back Elliot scored from the spot in the last encounter between the two at Bramall Lane last season. But this time he agonisingly put the ball wide of the right-hand post with Kenny diving the wrong way.
Jihai were quickly eager to get involved in the action. He ran at least 15 yards to take a lunge at Michael Mifsud. The referee had no hesitation in producing the red card for the China man. Jihai responded by kicking his boot off which landed a good 30 yards away with him lashing his anger out. Despite the terrible tackle, Sun received applauses from most areas of the Bramall Lane terraces.
Nick Montgomery had to temporary slip into the right-back position with Halford waiting in the wings to come onto the playing field. But before the substitution was made, Billy Sharp had to adjust himself correctly to get clean contact on Cotterill's cross. Sharp turned away from the defender to shoot the ball into the bottom corner past Westwood.
Cotterill departed the field for the on-loan Greg Halford. After more Coventry attacks, both managers decided to make a change up top. Billy Sharp made way for Danny Webber while Leon Best replaced Clinton Morrison.
Michael Mifsud went down in the box with Matt Kilgallon on his guard but the man in the middle were confident of pulling out a yellow card for diving. After returning from an injury to participate in Northern Ireland's World Cup Qualifiers, Keith Gillespie made his first appearance of the season in the latter stages of the game.
Halford's long launch of a throw was headed away to the all time Premier League appearance maker Gary Speed who tried the cheeky lob but Westwood was determined not to be beaten.
And the final action of the encounter was provided in the last minute of the three indicated. Leon Best broke free away from Morgan and Speed and he only had Kenny to beat in a one-on-one situation. The forward though, showed his nerves and couldn't handle the pressure by putting the ball wide past the post.
But some strange tactics from Blackwell and a dire 1st half were rescued by Billy Sharp's strike. It could've all been different though if Ward and Best had converted their chances.