HUGHES SACKED AFTER SKY BLUES FALL IN ON HIM

from the moment the draw was made. The FA Cup tends to throw up a nostalgia stat which, in this case, was that Coventry’s last tie against Stoke was in 1987 when the Sky Blues went on to win the famous old pot.

No one is about to suggest the Sky Blues will be victorious at Wembley in May, but knocking out Premier League opposition in the third round is reason rnough to celebrate.

Sparky Hughes has been a sacking waiting to happen for several weeks and yesterday’s defeat was the final straw for the club’s top brass, who sacked him hours later. Grim and Grimmer. First Jordan Willis, who provided the opener having already cleared off the line from Mame Diouf following a wonderful pass by Stephen Ireland.

That was in the opening stages, when Stoke looked vaguely capable of seeing the job through, and before the home side scored. Coventry took the lead halfway through the first half after winning a corner.

Jordan Maguire-Drew delivered it, Jack Grimmer got the flick on and there was Willis to set up a day to remember for his hometown team. Having

gone behind, Stoke’s attempt to reply left gaps at the back which the Sky Blues were unlucky not to exploit with another couple of goals.

But Stoke equalised thanks to a Charlie Adam penalty. Willis was the guilty party, fouling Ramadan Sobhi.

With Peter Crouch thrown on in search of a winner, Stoke began to pressurise. The head of steam disappeared in an instant, however, as a ball from Tom Bayliss found Grimmer, who cut inside and beat Jack Butland.

Quite how Coventry withstood the barrage that followed, only Mark Robins will know but withstand it they did.

When ref Martin Atkinson signalled four minutes of added time, a final ball was slung into the box, Crouch was leaping, and it flew over the bar. Seconds later, the crowd erupted.

Coventry have been dogged with ownership and financial issues for years.

Yet Robins has come in and transformed the fortunes of the team on the pitch.