Coventry City’s Wembley ‘wow’ factor against Manchester United

Brad Collins turned to look at Liam Kitching – the pair in combined awe at the sea of sky blue flags, shirts and scarves as Coventry City walked out at Wembley in last year’s play-off final.

The duo, who were at Barnsley at the time, took in the Sky Blues match with their team-mates the day before their own big day out at the national stadium in the League One play-off final against Sheffield Wednesday. Little did they know that 12 months on and they’d both be on the pitch in front of those impressive Coventry fans.

Along with Bobby Thomas – who was also at Oakwell last season – they watched City go agonisingly close to securing a return to the Premier League, losing out in a penalty shootout to Luton Town. Now they’re returning to the ‘Arch’ in the semi-final of the FA Cup, with Manchester United standing in their way of an historic place in the final for only the second time in the club’s existence.

“It’s really strange because I was sat next to Kitch at the Championship play-off final last year, which we watched together with the Barnsley lads,” said goalkeeper Collins, who signed for City a few weeks later in the summer.

“And we looked around at the fans and thought, ‘wow,’ and then a few months later we were playing for Coventry and now we could be walking out onto the pitch at Wembley in sky blue to all those fans. It’s a fantastic achievement and we’re all looking forward to it.”

City have already beaten one Premier League team en-route to Wembley with last month’s hugely memorable 3-2 comeback against Wolves – an incredible achievement considering they were 2-1 down in the 88th minute. But goals from Ellis Simms in 90+7 minutes and a winner from Haji Wright in 90+10 of stoppage time secured a brilliant result.

It took a while for the magnitude of the achievement to sink in.

“Having the international break coming straight afterwards and then the draw, it’s given us time to reflect on it all,” said Collins, breaking into a broad smile.

Asked if the victory at Molineux was the biggest game in his career to date, the former Chelsea prospect who grew up under the watchful and guiding eye of City coach Adi Viveash, said: “Umm, yes I’d say so. Looking back at it now it feels bigger than it was at the time. It was obviously a fantastic occasion for us, the fans and club as a whole. The club has another trip to Wembley coming up, so it’s great.”

Coventry aspire to get to the Premier League to compete with the likes of Wolves and Manchester United week in and week out. Asked what was the biggest difference he noticed when playing against a top flight side compared to the bread and butter of the Championship, he said: “Probably how ruthless they are, especially when Wolves scored their two goals in quick succession. They weren’t really in it and then all of a sudden we were 2-1 down despite having had the game we had had, but it was obviously fantastic for us to get two goals and win the game, which made it a really special story.”

As for what the win has done for team spirit, he added: “Obviously everyone went on their separate ways after the game with international duty and time off and things but it can only give us confidence going forward into the remaining games that we can beat anyone.”

Once through to the semi-final, City waited to see whether they’d face Manchester City, United or Chelsea. So who did he want?

“I didn’t really mind to be honest,” he said, “although, I have played Man City before when I was on loan at Burton and that didn’t go too well, so I kind of wanted to avoid them. But listen, whoever we had was always going to be a tough game, and it will be a tough game.”

Collins was in goal at the Etihad in a 9-0 thrashing in the EFL Cup in 2019 when Pep Guardiola’s charges were, quite literally, scoring for fun with Gabriel Jesus bagging four to himself.

He added: “I supported Liverpool as a lad. A few of my family members supported them and some also supported Southampton, and I went to quite a few Southampton games when I was younger. But Liverpool were kind of my team. When Man United played them I kind of wanted to get Liverpool.

“But if you look at the teams we could have drawn, they would all have been tough games and so we look forward to it. It’s a great occasion for us and the fans.”

As for how he will feel going up against the likes of Marcus Rashford and Scott McTominay, to name just two of the Red Devils’ stars, and how much of a challenge it’s going to be for him and his team-mates, he said: “Yeah, obviously they are top players and have proven that at every stage, but it’s down to us to stop them. “Anything in football is possible, and especially taking into account our confidence as a group, I don’t think we will be fearing many people. It will be exciting to go and play against them.”

City’s game plan will be all important on the day, as it was against Wolves when they caught Wanderers on the hop with a changed formation and players like Milan van Ewijk played out of his natural position. So will it be down to the tactical detail and relying on every player to be at their best, and some, as well as maybe catching United on an off day?

“Yeah, I think it will be a bit of everything,” he said. “To go to Wembley and beat a team like Manchester United you probably need a few things to go in your favour. You need everything to be spot on, the players to be at their max. It’s not just one or two things, a lot of things have to come together and, yes, we look forward to the challenge.”

Returning to the sea of sky blue that awaits, Collins knows how big a part they will play on the day.

“The fans at Wolves were incredible, and to celebrate with them afterwards just showed what it meant to them and us,” he said. “But they are here for us week in and week out, home and away; they are tremendous. Having seen what they were like in the play-off final at Wembley last year I saw how great they were then. So we can’t wait to see them back there again for what will be a great occasion.”