Coventry City vs Manchester United Player Ratings
There’s just something about the FA cup every single season. It has always been about storylines, underdogs and the seasonal upset, something Coventry City defines to a “T” this season. But then the FA Cup gods pitted them against Manchester United. A Manchester United that haven’t been at their best for more than half a year but a star-studded side nevertheless.
But from the moment the first half kicked off, Mark Robins’ side looked well off the pace. They didn’t quite get into the game, and United took full advantage of that. By the end of the first half, Mark Robbins’ side had zero shots on goal, United had nearly ten and had scored twice. Ten minutes into the second half and United had their third goal. Many believed that was that as could a Championship side do anything now?
But then, Coventry City scored thrice in 30 minutes, including a 90+4 minute penalty to send the game into extra-time with the world still shocked. But extra-time couldn’t separate the two and in the end, penalties did as Manchester United walked into the final, badly bruised.
Coventry City Player Ratings
Bradley Collins: 4
Was at fault for the first goal as the cross slipped under him and into McTominay’s path for a clean shot but could do very little about Maguire’s header or Fernandes’ deflected goal.
Bobby Thomas: 5
Struggled in the first half and caused his side a few problems but eventually recovered in the second half after the change in formation.
Joel Latibeaudiere: 4
At fault for the third goal and always overwhelmed by the combination of Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford, Joel Latibeaudiere did not have a good game. The back-three didn’t quite help either in the first half and even the change to a back-four in the second half didn’t help. Eventually replaced by Fabio Tavares.
Liam Kitching: 4
Much like Latibeaudiere, Kitching struggled a lot in the first half with Diogo Dalot and Alejandro Garnacho running riot on that side. Dalot especially caused a lot of trouble with the opening goal coming from a cross that Kitching wasn’t there in time to stop. That didn’t change as the game wore on with the defender run ragged as he walked off the field.
Milan van Ewijk: 6
Like most of his side, Van Ewijk struggled immensely in the first half but recovered superbly in the second with a much improved and solid performance.
Ben Sheaf: 6
The first half wasn’t kind to either Coventry midfielder with both Eccles and Sheaf getting outplayed and struggled to get into the game by the half-time whistle. Things did change and alongside O’Hare, Sheaf ran the midfield for his side as they produced a historic comeback to send the game to extra-time.
Josh Eccles: 5
The first half wasn’t kind to the Coventry midfielders with both Eccles and Sheaf not just getting outplayed but at times, the duo were never really in the game. Eccles did offer a little more threat, towards the end of the first half but didn’t really do enough in the end to stay on the field in the second.
Jake Bidwell: 5
A ghost on the field, Bidwell did his best to deal with the United threat in the first half but wasn’t quite up to the mark and that never really changed in the second. Eventually replaced by Jay Dasilva as his side chased after the equalising goal.
Callum O’Hare: 7
Whether it was the change in formation or the substitutions, it was a tale of two halves for O’Hare and his side as he ran the show for his side. As if that wasn’t enough, he even sent a deflected shot into the net to pull his side back into the game.
Ellis Simms: 7
Going into the game, Simms had scored 18 goals which included 5 in 5 FA Cup appearances but like Wright, Simms was a ghost in the first half. And much like O’Hare, it was a tale of two halves as he proved to be a menace in the second half, causing all sorts of problems. It eventually led to the goal, which kicked off a comeback and Simms was in the middle of it all.
Haji Wright: 5
A ghost in the first half, things didn’t change in the second for Wright. His side improved immensely after the change in formation but Wright was the lone man to not do so. His positioning, runs into the final third and more weren’t up to the mark for a forward in an FA Cup semi-final. Then came the 94th minute penalty with two minutes of added time left and with his side 3-2 down. He only goes and scores.
He did have a chance in extra-time to put his side ahead but couldn’t quite finish it.
Substitutes:
Fabio Tavares: 6
3-0 down and few expected anything to change but Fabio Tavares walked on and provided a bonafide threat down the right for his side. That included a lovely cross to find Ellis Sims, who pulled one back, but the substitution effectively changed the game. Was replaced after an injury in ET.
Victor Torp: 6
Replaced Eccles in midfield and was a constant threat whenever Coventry had the ball in the second half and even in extra time. Even smacked a perfectly caught volley at goal but Onana did well to parry it away. Beyond that, Thorp did offer more of a presence in midfield and that helped his side. Did poke home a late extra-time goal into the net for what looked like the winner but it was ruled out for offside.
Luis Binks:6
Stepped into defense effortlessly in the second half and plugged any gaps that Coventry had whenever they charged forward on the attack.
Jay Dasilva:6
A constant threat down the left, DaSilva caused Diogo Dalot all sorts of problems with Torp often helping out to help cause even more issues. Not the star substitute but was one of the bright sparks off the bench for the Sky Blues.
Matt Godden: NA
Manchester United Player Ratings
Andre Onana: 6
Had very little to do in the first half and then proceeded to earn the wrath of the crowd with his time-wasting antics in the second. Then the comeback started and while Onana could do very little about the second and third goals, he could have done more for the first. Also produced a blinding reactive save to stop a well-connected Victor Thorp volley just before the third goal.
Diogo Dalot: 7
The star of the Manchester United show, Dalot probably walked away as the cleanest United player in a defense that let three goals slip despite holding a 3-0 lead. The Portuguese full-back was the creative hub in the first half and did more than enough to stifle Dasilva and co when he could.
Casemiro: 5
Was a long-ball specialist in the first half, pinging delicious passes to create a few chances for his side but after the change in Coventry’s formation, Casemiro wasn’t the same. He looked out of place as a center-back, was at fault for not covering for the first goal and simply didn’t have the legs to compete. And he missed his penalty in the shootout, which didn’t prove costly in the end.
Harry Maguire: 6
Thumped a gorgeous header to send his side 2-0 up in the first half and did his best in the second half to stem Coventry’s threat but in the end could do very little about two of the three goals. Was horribly out of position for the first which handed Simms the space to score though for the first.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka: 4
Had very little to do in the first half thanks to United dominating Coventry City but the second half wasn’t a performance to remember for Wan-Bissaka. That was especially the case after Fabio Tavares walked on as he caused all sorts of problems for Wan-Bissaka. Then he failed to stop a cross, which lead to a goal, did his best to block a shot which deflected for the second goal and then conceded a penalty which led to the third.
Scott McTominay: 7
A box-to-box presence in the first half, McTominay caused all sorts of problems for the Coventry back-line with his late runs into the box, forcing more than a few chances. He eventually found in point-blank range and fired the first goal in. Did his bit in the second half but hobbled off in extra-time with an injury.
Kobie Mainoo: 6
Not quite at his best tonight, Mainoo was still always available in the right spot to keep the ball ticking and moving which did help United score a few goals. Eventually replaced by Christian Eriksen in an effort to bring in more control from United.
Alejandro Garnacho: 6
A decent threat on the ball in the first half, Garnacho had his best moment mere minutes into the first half but couldn’t get on the end of the cross and kicked at the air instead. Things didn’t get any worse for the winger but he did dovetail superbly with Dalot to cause more than a few problems.
Bruno Fernandes: 7
The second best United player on the night, Fernandes finished the game with a goal and assist, and could have had a second goal but thundered his shot against the crossbar. Beyond that, the midfielder was all over the field, causing all sorts of problems for Coventry.
Marcus Rashford: 5
His pace and directness often proved to be a threat in the first half with Rashford getting just shy of a dozen chances to do something in the final third. However, the Englishman’s form has been off lately and it meant that he failed to do too much in the final third. That continued in the second half but even then, it was only an injury that forced him off.
Rasmus Hojlund: 4
Struggled to do anything tonight, Hojlund did effectively nothing for his side even while United dominated that first half. Not quite sure what has happened to the young star’s form but he looked a shadow of the player he was pre injury. Did take the second-best penalty for his side though in the shootout.
Substitutes:
Christian Eriksen: 6
Was brought on to control the game and while he did that, Eriksen could do nothing as Coventry put goal after goal after goal into the net.
Antony: 3
Replaced Garnacho and offered absolutely nothing offensively or defensively,
Amad Diallo: 5
Did his best after replacing Rashford but struggled to break past a solid Coventry defense in extra-time.
Omari Forson: NA
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