Coventry vs Man Utd predictions: Sky Blues can test United in semi-final showdown
- Coventry are eighth in the Championship
- United are seventh in the Premier League
- Recommended bet: Manchester United to win and both teams to score
Coventry City’s superb run to the FA Cup semi finals has them dreaming of causing a huge upset when they face Manchester United.
The Sky Blues, famously winners of the competition in 1987, can certainly cause United problems at Wembley but they are unlikely to be quite good enough to reach the final.
It has been a season to forget for Erik ten Hag’s men, but they are more than capable of rising to the occasion and they will be determined not to pass up a great chance of ending a largely disappointing campaign on a high by staying on course for FA Cup glory.
Team news
Coventry will be without Tatsuhiro Sakamoto and Jamie Allen for their big day at Wembley but there are no reported fresh injury issues for former United player Mark Robins to deal with ahead of the semi, although Kasey Palmer is suspended.
United's injury list is substantial, however, as Victor Lindelof, Lisandro Martinez, Tyrell Malacia, Anthony Martial, Luke Shaw and Raphael Varane are all still out while Jonny Evans, Antony and Scott McTominay are doubts.
The stats
To get to this stage, Coventry have beaten Oxford at home (6-2), Sheffield Wednesday, 4-1 in a replay at home, Maidstone at home (5-0) and then Premier League Wolves (3-2) away in the quarter-final.
Ellis Simms has scored five FA Cup goals for Coventry on the Road To Wembley.
United have seen off Wigan away (2-0), Newport County away (4-2) and Nottingham Forest away (1-0), before beating Liverpool 4-3 at home in the last eight.
The two sides have not met in a competitive game since a League Cup third round tie at Old Trafford in 2007 — a game Coventry memorably won 2-0.
Coventry have lost their last two games but still remain in with an outside chance of reaching the Championship play-offs as they sit eighth, eight points behind Norwich in sixth, with a game in hand.
United have not won any of their last four games, drawing three times against Brentford, Liverpool and Bournemouth and losing to Chelsea in that run.
Prediction
United have been frustratingly inconsistent under Ten Hag, mixing some impressive performances with some woefully inept ones.
If the disorganised, lacklustre incarnation of the Red Devils shows up at Wembley on Sunday then Coventry might just have a chance, but surely Ten Hag’s men will be the better version of themselves this weekend.
Coventry have done brilliantly to get this far and they will no doubt have a game plan to try and nullify United, who are likely to dominate possession and territory.
The Sky Blues will be dangerous on the break and the expansive Wembley pitch will suit them if they can exploit the Premier League side's obvious weaknesses.
That being said, the romantics are set to be disappointed and even though the second tier side can more than play their part it should be United that prevails.
Win up to £250,000 with LiveScore 6!
Win up to £250,000 with our free-to-play game, LiveScore 6!
