Coventry City manager Mark Robins has apologised for celebrating wildly in front of a ballboy as his side scored twice deep into stoppage time to stun Wolves 3-2 to reach the FA Cup semi finals for the first time since 1987.
The Championship side looked to have blown their chance to reach Wembley when Wolves themselves scored twice in the final seven minutes of the 90.
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However, Ellis Simms’ second goal of the match levelled in the 97th minute before he teed up Hagi Wright to fire into the corner three minutes later.
Wright’s last-gasp strike sparked jubilant scenes among the travelling Coventry fans at Molineux as well as in the visitors’ dugout, including Robins.
However, the Coventry boss conceded he took his celebrations a little too far.
“I have an apology to make to the ballboy, because before that [the celebration] happened, the young kid had the ball, he dropped it and walked away smiling,” Robins said.
“It really annoyed me, but he’s a kid at the end of the day.
“I reacted and I went away when we scored and celebrated in front of him. So I want to apologise to him. I do not show emotion very often but I did today and that’s what the FA Cup does to you.”
The home side were without all of Gary O’Neil’s preferred front three of Pedro Neto, Hwang Hee-chan and Matheus Cunha due to injury.
Wright scored deep into second half stoppage time to secure the win. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
And it was Coventry who created the vast majority of the chances. Simms had missed an incredible opportunity in the first half when he miscued with the goal gaping.
But the former Everton striker has now scored 10 goals in his last eight games after his controversial opener stood.
The ball rebounded off Simms from Liam Kitching’s header across goal eight minutes into the second half and was allowed to stand despite a check for handball against the Coventry frontman.
Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sa then crucially kept his side in the tie with a string of vital saves, while Kasey Palmer should have scored when he curled inches wide.
It looked like the Sky Blues would be made to regret those missed chances when Rayan Ait-Nouri pounced on an error from Joel Latibeaudiere to smash home the equaliser.
Ait-Nouri then set up his fellow left-back Hugo Bueno to fire into the bottom corner for his first senior goal.
Yet, the drama did not end there as Bobby Thomas’ flick on found Simms unmarked to bullet in a header.
Just as both sides were preparing for an extra 30 minutes, Coventry then struck in the 100th minute to snatch victory.
Robins has guided Coventry to its first FA Cup semi final since 1987. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Simms again played a big part as he picked out Wright at the edge of the box and the American international curled an unstoppable effort into the far corner.
A founder member of the Premier League, Coventry sank from the top down to the fourth tier of English football as recently as the 2017/18 season.
But they have achieved two promotions under Mark Robins and narrowly missed out on a return to the Premier League last season, losing the Championship playoff final to Luton on penalties.
Wembley awaits once more in the last four potentially against the likes of Manchester City or Liverpool.
City continue their quest for another treble in their FA Cup quarter-final at home to Newcastle later on Saturday.
Liverpool travel to Manchester United and Chelsea host Leicester in the other quarter-final ties on Sunday.
2024-03-17 00:34:28
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