FA Cup Third Round: Coventry City 1 - 1 Sheffield Wednesday

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Coventry knock Sheff Wed out of FA Cup on penalties



Last season's beaten FA Cup semi-finalists Coventry City put their spot-kick miseries behind them as they knocked out fellow Championship side Sheffield Wednesday to reach the fourth round.

Defender Liam Kitching's first-half strike looked set to earn the Sky Blues a narrow third-round win, only for the Owls to level three minutes into stoppage time through Anthony Musaba.

But, as might be expected of any team managed by a past penalty king like Frank Lampard, having failed to win their previous four shootouts, this time the hosts kept their heads on a freezing cold night in Coventry to triumph.

Although City defender Jake Bidwell was first to miss in the shootout, Jamal Lowe fired over the bar before Oliver Dovin dived low to save from Olaf Kobacki, allowing Norman Bassette to follow successful kicks from Victor Torp, Josh Eccles and Jack Rudoni with the winning penalty.

Coventry put out Wednesday at the fourth-round stage a year ago en route to Wembley, winning 4-1 in a replay after a 1-1 draw at Hillsborough.

But, of the Sky Blues side who started that replay, only four also started this one, one of whom was Torp.

It was from his left-wing corner that Coventry scored on 26 minutes as Bobby Thomas flicked on, the Owls failed to clear their lines, and Kitching reacted sharply, swivelling to power a left-foot volley into the back of the net.

Coventry just about deserved their half-time lead and it remained a close-fought contest after the break. But the Sky Blues got understandably tense, having given up a 1-0 lead to lose to two stoppage-time goals a week earlier.

And it took a Dovin save to deny Barry Bannan's shot on 84 minutes - the visitors' first effort on target.

But, three minutes into stoppage time, with Coventry down to 10 men as defender Luis Binks was off the pitch getting treatment on a head wound, the Owls finally pounced when Musaba scrambled in Josh Windass' corner.

Then it was all down to the lottery of penalties and, after the cruelty of being denied by spot-kicks at Wembley in successive years, having also lost that way in the 2023 Championship play-off final against Luton Town before last April's defeat by Manchester United, this time City had the players to stand up to the task.

The Owls netted three of their first four penalties from Windass, Bannan and Shea Charles, whose younger brother Pierce stayed upright to save Bidwell's poorly struck spot-kick, but this time it was not Coventry who blinked first.

Coventry City boss Frank Lampard told BBC CWR:

"It was so unfortunate for us to concede the way we did. It's never fun when it goes to penalties. But the feeling you get at the end when you win is great.

"In the heat of the moment I was upset that we had lost Binksy and that we were a man down but we know it's the rule, a number of decisions went against us and you just have to get on with it.

"I took penalties and I've been in shootouts so I know the pressure, and it's a nice feeling to see the players so focused and for Oli Dovin to make the save he did.

"My only concern was that we didn't take the chances to put the game to bed earlier, but I'm just pleased we're in the hat - and I feel so pleased for the fans, who have turned out again in weather like this and got their reward."