
| Date: Sunday, 21 April Venue: Wembley Kick-off: 15:30 BST Coverage: Listen to full match commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live with John Murray and Clinton Morrison; follow live text commentary on the BBC Sport website & app |
Coventry City boss Mark Robins says Manchester United are favourites in their FA Cup semi-final but he wants his side to “play a part in the game in as positive way as we possibly can”.
The Sky Blues go into the game with their challenge for a play-off spot in the Championship having faltered with three points from the last 12.
“First and foremost, we’ve got to be right. We’ve lost three of our last four, it’s not brilliant form that’s for sure at this stage of the season,” said Robins.
“People have been talking about, has there been one eye on this game? I doubt it, although you could be forgiven for thinking about the game before it’s played.”
Coventry won the FA Cup for the only time in their history in 1987 when they beat Tottenham in the final, while Manchester United have won the competition 12 times.
“We know they are clearly favourites to win this game by a million miles, they are expected to win, it’s as simple as that,” added Robins. who began his career with Manchester United and scored an FA Cup third-round winner for them at Nottingham Forest in 1990 which is believed to have saved Sir Alex Ferguson’s job as United manager.
“We know what we are likely to encounter but we’ve got to play a part in the game in as positive way as we possibly can do.”
Manchester United were beaten finalists in last season’s FA Cup when they lost to Manchester City and are also struggling for form going into the game against the Sky Blues.
Manager Erik ten Hag’s side, who beat Liverpool in a dramatic FA Cup quarter-final to reach the last four, have three draws and a defeat from their last four games and have dropped to seventh in the Premier League.
“Obviously, we want to win every game,” said Ten Hag. “So when we don’t win we are disappointed, are frustrated, sure, but we know also we can beat the best teams.
“When we play to our levels, we can achieve really high highs.”
Winger Anthony and midfielder Scott McTominay are set to return from injury for Manchester United, while defender Harry Maguire could also feature.
“We have some problems,” added Ten Hag. “Harry had a small injury so he hasn’t trained so far this week, but now he is back on the pitch.
“We expect him back in team training on Friday. He will be available for Sunday, I hope.”
| Coventry City | Manchester United | |
| Third round | Oxford (h) 6-2 | Wigan (a) 2-0 |
| Fourth round | Sheffield Wednesday (a) 1-1 | Newport County (a) 4-2 |
| Fourth round replay | Sheffield Wednesday (h) 4-1 | |
| Fifth round | Maidstone (h) 5-0 | Nottingham Forest (a) 1-0 |
| Quarter-final | Wolves (a) 3-2 | Liverpool (h) 4-3 |