Coventry beat Wolves 3-2 thanks to two stoppage-time goals after the home side had seemed to snatch it late on themselves; Mark Robins involved in spat with ball-boy at Molineux; Pedro Neto potentially out for season in further blow to Wolves
Sunday 17 March 2024 11:09, UK
Coventry scored twice in stoppage time to win 3-2 at Wolves in an incredible FA Cup quarter-final at Molineux.
The Championship side took the lead early in the second half through Ellis Simms but appeared set for heartbreak when late goals from Rayan Ait-Nouri and substitute Hugo Bueno turned the tie the Premier League side's way in front of a jubilant home crowd.
But there was a dramatic twist when Simms equalised in the 97th minute, seemingly taking the game into extra-time, only for Haji Wright to go one better - winning it for Mark Robins' men with a fine finish in the 100th minute.
Coventry are going to Wembley, into the semi-finals of the FA Cup for the first time since they won the competition in 1987. Gary O'Neil's Wolves, who looked to have performed the turnaround themselves, are left wondering how they contrived to miss out.
Wolves could point to the fact that they were without their best forwards - without almost any forwards - due to injuries to Pedro Neto, Matheus Cunha and Hee-Chan Hwang. It left the Premier League side with teenager Nathan Fraser leading the line.
But it was Coventry's forwards to the fore throughout, having by far the better chances during an open first half. Simms' inexplicable miss in the first half , presented with a tap-in after Jose Sa had saved well from Kasey Palmer, did not foreshadow what was to come.
Milan van Ewijk was one-on-one with Sa soon after following better work by Simms, but the Wolves goalkeeper got enough contact on the low shot to divert it behind for a corner. They were warnings for Wolves but Simms punished them after the break.
There was a lengthy VAR delay after he bundled in the opener, due to a hint of handball, but the real drama was to follow, Coventry spurning chance after chance to take a two-goal advantage. Sa was superb, continually denying a team growing in confidence.
Wolves appeared to make them pay when Ait-Nouri swept home to equalise and then Bueno finished well after more brilliant work by the left-back turned playmaker. It had the home support singing of Wembley, relieved at the prospect of a scarcely-deserved win.
Coventry had other ideas and they deserve huge credit for their response. Callum O'Hare's cross was flicked on by Bobby Thomas and there was Simms again to score from close range. Even when level, they pushed for the winner and - outrageously - they found it.
Wright's finish from the left edge of the box was magnificent. Coventry could barely believe it, their fans ecstatic, the coaching staff on the pitch at the final whistle. They are going to Wembley but whatever happens next, this is a game nobody involved will forget.
"Brilliant from start to finish" is how Robins described his team's performance. "We were unfortunate not to score in the first half," he said. And while there was a period in which he was left wondering if his team would "rue the missed chances" they came through.
"We did not want to sit back," he said. "We have a good group, wanting to play, wanting to learn, wanting to play how we want them to play, which is to be brave. They deserve all the plaudits that they will get. They were absolutely magnificent today."
Robins won the FA Cup as a player with Manchester United in 1990. "This is something different," he said, adding: "There are moments in a career, sort of defining moments that you can refer back to. This surely should be one of them for players who played today."
Asked if Coventry could win the FA Cup, he replied: "You do realise who is left in? We have a small chance, don't we. We know, we are not stupid. The levels go up all the time. I am expecting a really tough encounter at Wembley but we have to try to enjoy it."
Robins "apologised unreservedly" to a Wolves ball-boy for celebrating in his face after the winning goal. In Robins' view, the ball-boy had delayed returning the ball and smiled at him. "But he is a kid," said the Coventry boss. "I celebrated right in front of him."
"I do not show emotion very often. It shows what it does to you."
Gary O'Neil confirmed that he had spoken to Robins after seeing footage of the incident. "To celebrate in the boy's face was disgusting," said the Wolves coach. "I have seen him (the ball-boy) downstairs and he is really upset about it. They are just kids doing their job."
Wolves' injury problems show no signs of ending with Neto potentially out for the rest of the season as a result of the hamstring injury that he suffered against Fulham last time out. The winger is set for a lay-off around nine weeks, all but ending his Euro 2024 hopes.
"Neto, it is potentially the end of the season for him," said O'Neil. "It is very similar to the injury on the other side (that ruled Neto out for over two months earlier in the campaign). Potentially, he gets back for the last couple. Could be quicker, could be longer."
O'Neil added: "He did not think it was serious, he felt it was not too bad. How it is with hamstring is that if it near the tendon that impacts the rehabilitation. He was devastated, of course. But he is still young. We have to make sure he gets it right."
Wolves head to rivals Aston Villa in the West Midlands derby after the international break on Saturday March 30, live on Sky Sports. Kick-off 5.30pm.
Coventry visit Huddersfield in their next Championship fixture on Friday March 29. Kick-off 3pm.
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