If the Blades are to surprise the critics and put them firmly within each of making the top six they must see a reserve score line than the 3-2 defeat they received at the Ricoh Arena earlier in the season.
The Sky Blues took the lead through Leon Best (12 minutes) but Jamie Ward (31) levelled things up and United looked like they would turn the game on its head but woeful defending allowed Clinton Morrison (51) and Martin Craine (60) stretched the home sides lead. James Harper (76) netted his first goal for the club and Ched Evans struck the bar late on but the visitors couldn't find that deserved equaliser.
Blades boss Kevin Blackwell will be without defender Paul Connolly through suspension; the on-loan Derby County full-back was shown two yellow cards in last Saturday's 0-0 draw with local rivals Barnsley. On-loan Arsenal defender Kyle Bartley is likely to be handed a recall; keeper Paddy Kenny is also unavailable due to suspension!
United are also without Gary Naysmith (hamstring), Derek Geary (ankle), Ched Evans (broken collarbone), Toni Kallio (hamstring), Jordan Stewart (hamstring), Henri Camara (groin) and Ryan France (leg). It is however believed that Scottish international defender Gary Naysmith and Welsh international striker Ched Evans are close to a return.
Despite being without Paddy Kenny it's likely that on-loan Stoke City shot stopper Steve Simonen will take the number one spot with former Sky Blue Ian Bennett as a named substitute.
Bennett spent three months on loan from Birmingham City in February 2005 having already spent time on loan at Bramall Lane in the same season. He made his debut in a 2-1 win at Reading but four games later he was shown a red card after collecting the ball outside the area. This was against Stoke City were ironically in the oppositions net was Steve Simonsen.
In total he played just six games at the then Highfield Road club before returning to St Andrews were he then made a summer move to Leeds United on a free transfer.
Blades Last Line-Up (05/04/2010 at Newcastle United): Steve Simonsen, Nyron Nosworthy, Chris Morgan, Marcel Seip, Andy Taylor, Nick Montgomery, James Harper, Lee Williamson, Stephen Quinn, Richard Cresswell, Darius Henderson. Substitutes: Mark Yeates, Kyle Bartley, Glen Little, Derek Geary, Jonathan Fortune, Matthew Lowton.
Coventry City head into this fixture after an away tie at Reading; the Sky Blues haven't travelled well this season having lost ten matches on road prior to their date with the Royals at the Madejski Stadium; in fact tomorow's visitors haven't now won for
eight matches following their 3-0 defeat at Reading last Monday.
The visitors are likely to be without striker Freddy Eastwood (back) due to injury; the former Southend United and Wolverhampton Wanderers forward has found the bet seven times this season.
Former Sheffield United and Blackburn Rovers striker Jonathan Stead is likely to be called upon to face his former club. He was signed from Sunderland by then Blades manager Neil Warnock in a £750,000 deal whilst in the Premier League. The Huddersfield born forward made his debut in a 1-1 draw with Portsmouth as United were relegated from the top flight.
A crowed favourite at the Lane but eventually couldn't hold down a starting roll and was moved on in September 2008 were he initially joined Ipswich Town on loan for the season before completing a £600,000 transfer. Currently on loan to the Sky Blues Stead made 32 (+15) appearances for the Bramall Lane club and scored eleven goals.
Sky Blues Last Line-Up (05/04/2010 at Reading): Keiran Westwood, Stephen Wright, Chris Hussey, James McPake, Leon Barnett, Sammy Clingan, Aron Gunnarsson, Gary Deegan, David Bell, Freddie Sears, Clinton Morrison. Substitutes: Martin Cranie, Richard Wood, Carl Baker, Dimi Konstantopolous, Marcus Hall, Shaun Jeffers, Jordan Clarke.
Blades-Mad Prediction: Sheffield United 2-0 Coventry City
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