Antony goads Coventry fans
Manchester United forward Antony was branded a Championship player after goading Coventry City fans despite being humiliated in the FA Cup semifinal.
The Brazilian came on as a second-half substitute at Wembley when United were 3-0 up and was part of their dramatic collapse that saw their second-tier opponents score three goals in 24 minutes to force extra-time.
Coventry also thought they had snatched a winner when Victor Torp found the net, but the goal was ruled out for offside and United reached the final through a 4-2 penalty shootout victory.
There was barely any celebration from United fans after their performance although Antony was seen cupping his ears at Coventry players and fans after Rasmus Hojlund scored the final United penalty.
“But that’s him. That’s him as a player. He needs to worry about his own job instead of Coventry because some of his performances this season show he could be playing in the Championship next season,” said former Crystal Palace striker Clinton Morrison.
“So instead of doing that to the Coventry fans, start producing on the pitch when Manchester United need you. These Coventry City fans were outstanding and stayed there, Manchester United have gone through and it was half empty.”
Antony has started two of the last 14 matches for United and the £82 million signing was suspended by the club earlier this season as he faced allegations of domestic abuse. Since returning to the squad he has scored two goals, both in the FA Cup against Newport and Liverpool.
“My confidence is back through hard work,” he said on a recent interview on MUTV.
“This despite having gone through a lot, I’ve been through some very difficult moments. Today, I’m turning things around and have been for quite a while now. Importantly, I continue working regardless of the situation.”
Meanwhile, the heartache of Coventry City losing one of the most thrilling FA Cup semifinals also came with fury after their 121st-minute “winner” was ruled out by VAR. “A toenail offside,” said manager Mark Robins. “It’s ridiculous” .
It may have been less than a toenail. Haji Wright, according to the pictures, was just in front of Aaron Wan-Bissaka when he made his run to set up Victor Torp. Even on replays it looked to the naked eye that he was onside, which was ITV co-commentator Lee Dixon’s first call.
For 1min 51sec, Coventry had pulled off the biggest FA Cup comeback miracle. Having trailed by three goals after an hour, they had taken the game to extra-time through Ellis Simms, Callum O’Hare and Haji Wright’s penalty. Torp’s goal was sending them to the final against Manchester City before the cruellest of VAR calls.
Even when Dixon realised it was offside, he thought it should be given. “Can you believe this game? It looked tight. Just give him the benefit of the doubt, why not? But that minute red line is just the wrong side of the blue one.”
When the tie went to penalties, United won after O’Hare had his spot-kick saved and Ben Sheaf missed the target.
“I’m bitterly disappointed,” Robins said. “I’m proud as well. Someone said to me I don’t think any team have been as close to a final without getting there. We deserved to go through, we were 20 seconds away and a toenail offside. Those lines are the bane of our life.
“It took an age. The fourth official said there was nothing wrong with it [initially]. A toenail offside. Disappointed but we have to be really proud. Once the dust settles a lot of people will talk about that game for a long time.
Such are the fine margins, Wright may have been given onside had the pass been made milliseconds later. Wan-Bissaka was heading towards his own goal and was mid-stride when the pass was made.
“He has not finished his second stride,” said ITV pundit Ian Wright. “If he finishes his second stride it might not be offside. These are the margins. It’s sad because it is so tight.”
Robins believes momentum that had been wrested by his team was handed back to United when the goal was disallowed.
“The mentality changes because you’ve almost won it and then you haven’t. It puts you on the back foot going into the penalty shootout. Thirty seconds later you’re in a shootout,” he said.
“I don’t blame anyone for missing. It is what it is. We’ll have to get better at them.”
Coventry still more than matched United and looked better than their position of eighth in the Championship. Players such as Simms, who arrived in the summer from Everton and has 19 goals, enhanced their reputations and stayed on the pitch afterwards while United went quickly back to the changing rooms.