SKY BLUES TAKE IT TO THE MAX!
COVENTRY City are fast becoming this season’s memorable FA Cup giant killers after the 1987 winners made light work of League One strugglers MK Dons to become the only League Two side definitely through to the fifth round.
Mark Robins’ side stunned Premier League Stoke City to make it to this stage and it was Maxime Biamou’s second-half strike in front of 8,000 travelling Sky Blues supporters that ensured they knocked-out a side from a higher division for the second time this season.
“We’re absolutely delighted to be in the hat and that’s what we set out to do before the game,” said Robins, who scored in the FA Cup as a player for Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United. “They made us work hard but we were resilient, we’ve made it through at the end of the day.
“Our fans deserve enormous credit because they’ve got behind the team and made it an unbelievable atmosphere.
“It’s exactly what we’ve come to expect from our supporters because they never let us down – it’s brilliant for everybody and you can see what it means to them.
“We’re in the hat and we can’t afford to be picking and choosing who we want in the next round.
“Of course, we’d like to go somewhere with 70,000 fans but whoever we get our focus is going to be trying to progress again.”
Robins’ side started on the front foot and went close on 23 minutes when Biamou’s powerful rightfooted drive forced Dons keeper Lee Nicholls into a testing save.
Both sides looked to seize the advantage in a lively opening period, but it was Coventry winger Tom Bayliss who was next to threaten an opener shortly after the half-time break when he cut inside onto his right foot before firing on goal.
And the visitors snatched the winner just after the hour in front of a sea of Sky Blues support through Biamou’s third goal of the season and his second in as many games after Ethan Ebanks-Landell failed to clear his lines for MK only for the French forward to gleefully poke home.
MK huffed and puffed late on and Kieran Agard should have done better when George Williams’ cross from the right into the six-yard box was waiting to be tapped home, but the former Rotherham and Bristol City forward got his legs in a tangle as Coventry City’s defence held firm to ensure their name’s in the hat for the fifth round draw that takes place on Monday.
MK Dons were welcoming new manager Dan Micciche into the dugout for the first time after chairman Pete Winkelman gave Robbie Neilson the boot last week.
And the former England under-16 coach insisted there were signs of encouragement from his new side despite the defeat.
“I think there were some promising signs from us,” he said.
“In the limited time we’ve had with them they’ve taken on board the things we’ve worked on, but unfortunately for us we weren’t able to take our chances.
“The first goal was always going to be key and when they got in front they made it difficult because they’re an organised side – so we wish them luck in the next round.
“I know why we’re not creating and scoring as many goals as we’d like, but I know we’ve got the right players at the club who are able to turn things around.”