Wolves' FA Cup Hopes Clash with Coventry's Dream Run

Soccer, FA Cup

The magic of the FA Cup is alive and well as the quarterfinal stage beckons, with an enticing David vs Goliath clash on the cards between Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers and Championship underdogs Coventry City.

While Wolves have stumbled at times this season, their recent resurgence under interim boss Gary O’Neil has them dreaming of Wembley glory. As BBC pundit Chris Sutton points out, their stronger squad and home advantage make them favorites against a Coventry side punching well above its weight.

However, the Sky Blues have already upset the odds by reaching this stage, continuing their remarkable rise from the depths of League Two under the canny leadership of Mark Robins. A penalty shootout was all that denied them a Premier League promotion last year, and they currently sit just outside the Championship playoff places.

Sutton predicts a narrow 2-1 win for Wolves but expects Coventry to make life extremely difficult, buoyed by their incredible cup run and opportunity to create history. “You have got to fancy Wolves here, though, and not just because they are at home,” he says. “They should dominate possession and I’d expect their greater quality to tell in the end.”

With no relegation fears and the international break following, Wolves have no reason to rotate their lineup, setting up a potent attacking trident of Matheus Cunha, Raul Jimenez and the in-form Pablo Sarabia to contend with Coventry’s stingy defense, which has kept 14 clean sheets in the Championship.

As Robins’ men continue to defy the odds, they may well draw inspiration from previous cup underdog stories, from Wimbledon’s sensational 1988 FA Cup Final win over Liverpool to Wigan’s 2013 triumph against Manchester City. The romance of the FA Cup has a habit of producing the unexpected.

At the same time, Wolves’ inconsistent league campaign leaves little room for complacency, with their supporters desperate for silverware after two successive seventh-place finishes. A failure to progress could see O’Neil’s temporary reign quickly unravel.

With everything to play for on both sides, an electric atmosphere seems guaranteed at Molineux. Coventry’s belief will be burning bright, but Wolves’ Premier League quality may ultimately prove decisive in determining whose Wembley dream lives on.