Coventry 3 Sheff Utd 2: Coleman takes his time as Sky Blues make progress

16 September 2009 00:19
Chris Coleman showed he's reaping the rewards of Coventry's patience as his young side ended Sheffield United's seven-game unbeaten run. After barely 19 months in charge, the former Fulham boss is already the tenth longest serving in a division that's a killing field for aspiring managers. But his team showed they are benefiting from the time he's been given - and nobody more so than Republic of Ireland striker Leon Best who hit a brilliant goal after only 11 minutes. Leon Best Leon knows Best: Sky Blues striker Best celebrates his brilliant opener 'We have definitely made progress and, while the squad is smaller, there's more quality now,' said delighted Coleman. 'This is such a tough league that you've got to have time. What you don't want is people reacting to negativity. As a manager, you have to be strong-minded, believe that what you are doing is right and hope that the powers that be share your views. 'It's ridiculous that so few clubs give anybody time. 'People say we don't have a lot of good British managers, but how are they meant to progress if they don' t get time? And by that I mean more than six months.' Best, 23 on Saturday, now has three goals this season and his superb volley showed why Giovanni Trapattoni gave him a first Irish cap at the end of last season. It was a sign that Best, once marked out as a prodigy in Southampton's youth team, is beginning to justify some of that old optimism. Fellow Republic of Ireland striker Clinton Morrison was also on target after the break, with new signing Martin Cranie left unmarked to head the third. United should have got more than Jamie Ward's 25-yard rocket before halftime, which had made it 1-1, as Stephen Quinn missed two gilt-edged chances. And, by the time James Harper bundled in a late effort to make it 3-2, the game was beyond them. Angry manager Kevin Blackwell said: 'If you don't take your chances and then give Mickey Mouse goals away, you don't deserve to win games. I couldn't fault the energy and commitment, but were we smart? Not at all. 'The only good thing is that I won't have to pick them up because we've got Sheffield Wednesday on Friday night. If we create the same chances then they had better be taken.'

Source: Daily_Mail