For just the second time in their history, Coventry City are gearing up for an FA Cup semi-final. The Sky Blues’ dramatic last-gasp victory over Wolves in the quarter-final will live long in the memory of their supporters, but it would pale in comparison to a victory at Wembley. Opponents don’t come much more illustrious than Manchester United, and this game will mean so much to manager Mark Robins, who scored an extra-time winner for the Red Devils at this stage in 1990!
Just three years earlier, Coventry beat Leeds at this stage, going on to lift the trophy and win their only major honour to date. The Sky Blues knocked United out in the fourth round in that season, while they also won the most recent meeting between the sides 2-0 in the League Cup in 2007 – both results they’ll look to lean on as they bid to become the first non-Premier League side to reach the FA Cup final since Cardiff in 2008.
Manchester United are set to feature in a second consecutive FA Cup semi-final for the first time in nearly two decades, but they’ll certainly be hoping for a more straightforward afternoon than last year’s penalty shootout victory against Brighton. That word isn’t often associated with Erik ten Hag’s men however, who’ve failed to win any of their four matches (D3, L1) since their breathless 4-3 victory over Liverpool in the quarter-finals.
The big game experience is certainly on the Red Devils’ side here as they prepare for a record-extending 32nd semi-final. Being on the end of one of the competition’s most famous upsets would surely be fatal for Ten Hag’s tenure as United boss, but the Dutchman can at least rely on his side’s imperious record against lower-league opposition in this competition, losing just two of the last 52 such matches.
Players to watch: Coventry striker Ellis Simms has been imperative in his side’s progression to this stage, scoring five times in the previous two rounds. Marcus Rashford is one of just four FA Cup winners in the Manchester United squad, but he’s never scored in this competition at Wembley from seven previous appearances.
Hot stat: Lower league teams have lost each of their last six appearances in the FA Cup semi-finals.
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