Given a standing ovation by the home fans before the game, Reid could then only sit and watch as his Coventry side were beaten by Clarke Carlisle and Julian Joachim's first goals for the club and Danny Pugh's third of the season.
Coventry have now won just twice in 36 visits to Leeds, but the defeat was rough on Reid's side who had looked the most likely to break the deadlock in an often dreary first half.
Reid made just one change to the side which beat West Ham last time out with new loan signing Dean Leacock from Fulham thrown straight in at centre-back in place of the departed Calum Davenport.
Julian Joachim saw his header cleared by Richard Shaw, while Frazer Richardson's 30-yard volley flew wide of Scott Shearer's goal as Leeds made the early running.
Tim Sherwood put himself about for Coventry in midfield whilst Pugh was lively for Leeds, but neither side created anything in front of goal in the first half-hour.
However, Neil Sullivan had to smartly race from his line to claim the ball at the feet of Coventry striker Eddie Johnson on a couple of occasions.
The Scotland keeper also denied Andy Morrell with a fine save in the 32nd minute after Leeds had been opened up down the left by an incisive move while Micky Doyle hit the bar from all of 25-yards.
City finished the game with ten men with Louis Carey receiving two yellow cards, both times for fouls on Pugh.
Leeds made the breakthrough just five minutes before the break when Carey's first foul on Pugh saw United handed a free-kick midway inside the Coventry half.
Jermaine Wright then curled a superb free-kick into the area where Carlisle rose to nod the ball over Coventry keeper Scott Shearer and into the net.
The goal was United's first effort on target, but they finished the half strongly with Joachim somehow missing a golden chance to score against his former club from just two yards out.
The former Villa and Leicester striker made amends, however, in the 70th minute by tapping in his first goal for Leeds since leaving Coventry in the summer.
He was on hand after Wright's header from a Pugh cross had been blocked by keeper Shearer, leaving Joachim with a simple chance to tap in.
Pugh then notched the third in the final minute after Wright's initial shot was blocked, finishing of a personal star performance from the youngster.