Robins left to rue Cup choker
MARK Robins reflected on missed opportunities as his Coventry side bowed out of the Cup after putting up a fight at Premier League Southampton.
Saints needed a Stuart Armstrong wonder-strike and an extra-time goal from Kyle Walker-Peters to edge out the Sky Blues.
Coventry, 11th in the Championship, were leading through a fine first-half goal from Viktor Gyokeres and had chances to be even further ahead, but ultimately missed out.
“I think the team that created the best chances probably lost, but we have to take those chances,” said Robins. “But the players were absolutely magnificent.
“Southampton had a lot of pace and a lot of experience, which you’d expect with a Premier League side.
“Their goalkeeper made some fantastic saves. If they go in then things get a little more tasty. But we have to be proud of them, without a shadow of a doubt.”
A mix-and-match Saints side, which featured 17-yearold debutant Thierry Small at left-back and Shane Long and Theo Walcott – with a combined age of 67 – in attack, were second best throughout the first half.
But after the break, Armstrong produced a magnificent long-range effort to take the match into extra time, then fellow half-time substitute Walker-Peters fired them into the fifth round.
Saints were denied a 12thminute opener when Adam Armstrong pulled the ball back to Walcott, whose firsttime shot was brilliantly beaten away by City keeper
Simon Moore. Small had a heart-in-mouth moment when he misjudged a headed clearance and was relieved to see the ball fly straight into the arms of Caballero.
But veteran keeper Willy Caballero was powerless to stop Coventry taking a 22ndminute lead through a classy Gyokeres goal.
The Swedish forward exchanged passes with Ben Sheaf on the edge of the box before slotting a precise finish into the net.
After the break Michael Rose had an immediate chance to put Coventry two up but headed a Gustavo Hamer corner wide. Instead, Armstrong conjured up a memorable goal to haul the top-flight side level.
Picking the ball up 25 yards out around the right corner of the penalty area, the Scotland midfielder sent the sweetest of strikes with the outside of his boot across Moore and into the opposite corner.
In extra time Broja found Walker-Peters down the left, and he ran at Todd Kane in the area before sending a deflected effort past Moore.
Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl said: “Cup games are always so tight and so tough, especially against a team as organised as Coventry.
“In the first half we were missing good touches to speed up the situation, but Stuey (Stuart Armstrong) scored a great goal.”