COVENTRY CITY 1-1 4-1 pens SHEFFIELD UNITED
City:Murphy (GK), Christie, Wood, Edjenguele, Adams, Jennings, Moussa (Fleck 76), McSheffrey, McGoldrick, Baker, Bailey. Subs: Dunn (GK), Clarke, Barton, O'Donovan.
Sheffield United: Long (GK), Westlake, Maguire, Hill, Flynn, Doyle, McAllister, Cresswell (Ironside 70), Cofie (Girolama 70), McFadzean (Chappell 66) , Williams. Subs: Coyne (GK),Philliskirk
HT CCFC 0-0 SUFC FT CCFC 1-1 SUFC. City win 4-1 on pens
ATT 10,162
Goals Harry McGuire 56 OG, David McAllister 79
Referee M.Brown. Assts I.Dudley & P.Graham. Fourth Official W.Barrett
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Coventry City needed a penalties victory to progress to the semi-final of the Johnstones Paint Trophy.
There were plenty of people queueing to get in, some had queued up to forty minutes, as City with three expected changes from the team that had beaten Morecambe on Saturday took to the field.
Against a Blades side which included former Sky Blue Michael Doyle, Cyrus Christie fired over early on from a raid down the right.
City's first corner came in the 15th minute and was won thanks to a good move from Franck Moussa.
A second came five minutes later and again was cleared too easily, after Wood failed to get something on Baker's flag kick.
Michael Doyle had United's best chance of a turgid game when he sent a long ranger at Murphy before Jennings ballooned one at the other end.
Baker and McSheffrey also fired well over the bar and a 40th minute corner came to nothing as McSheffrey's flag kick could not even get past the first man.
Two minutes later, Moussa got slightly nearer the crossbar. Then when a free kick was wasted, many of the crowd took it as their queue to head for the exits.
More queues due to closed toilets and less catering outlets did not please many at the break and people were still returning to their seats after City had a corner and Michael Doyle shot wide.
Matt Hill headed wide as the songs from the City support in the Singers Corner continued.
The game needed a goal and it came in the 56th minute when Harry McGuire turned into his own net after a surging Jennings run and great ball from Bailey.
City were lifted by this piece of good fortune and started to apply the pressure before a brave header away bv Wood gave United a 64th minute corner
Danny Wilson employed all of his substitutes and John Fleck was sent on in the 76th minute for Franck Moussa.
With Coventry City, one goal is very rarely enough and back came United with eleven minutes left, there was a cross from the left, Murphy blocked an initial shot and David McAllister banged home to score the first goal City had conceded in the competition before racing over to celebrate with the 600 plus away following.
In to the last two minutes and City had a corner. That got cleared as did another. McGoldrick got a speaking to as the game went to penalties.
Gary McSheffrey went first and scored. Joe Ironside converted for the Blades. David McGoldrick scored before Murphy saved McGuire's spot kick. Carl Baker scored and then Ryan Flynn blasted over the bar. Upstepped John Fleck and City were through.