Marcus Hall came through his first match in five months, but the man who caught the eye was Italian striker Stefano Gioacchini, who could have played himself into Saturday’s Premiership match.

The on-loan striker scored the reserves first goal, made the next for Paul Hall and then could have scored again himself.

He was a live wire member of the attack who was constantly menacing the Sheffield defence and the watching Gordon Strachan must have been satisfied that he has a credible attacking option for the crucial match against Middlesbrough at Highfield Road.

Hall was at left back, playing his first game since a ligament detached itself in his knee last October. After surgery to reattach it he has spent long hours working in the gymnasium and the hard work appeared to pay off.

Coventry had to wait until the 55^th minute to take the lead. Mo Konjic powered a huge header downfield and the alert Gioacchini raced on to it to volley first time into the net from the edge of the area.

Four minutes later the Italian laid back the perfect pass for Paul Hall to blast home the second goal.

Coventry had a lucky escape shortly afterwards when Sheffield’s Thomas Staniforth hit the underside of the crossbar but in the 81^st minute Willie Boland completed the scoring with a neatly flighted free-kick over Kevin Pressman into the net.

Coventry City Reserves:
Scope, Edworthy, Konjic, Brightwell, M. Hall, S. McPhee, Boland, Clement, Shilton, P. Hall, Gioacchini. Subs not used: Prenderbville, Mehmet, Barnett, Ducros, G. McPhee.