Coventry boss Mark Robins defends inconsistent Manchester United – but insists they will have nothing to fear against his former side in Wembley FA Cup semi-final

Mark Robins believes people are wrong to deride Manchester United for their current plight but insists his Coventry side have nothing to fear in the FA Cup semi-final.

Former United striker Robins, who famously scored the FA Cup goal against Nottingham Forest in 1990 that ‘saved’ Sir Alex Ferguson‘s job, leads Championship side Coventry out at Wembley on Sunday for only the second semi-final in the club’s history.

They face a United side struggling under Erik ten Hag, in danger of their worst-ever Premier League finish and a team who have conceded more shots since the turn of the year than any team in England’s top four divisions.

‘It’s a brilliant opportunity for everyone,’ said Robins. ‘There’s a lot of excitement around the city. It’s the first time we’ve been here since 1987. It’s not a normal occasion for us, but it is a normal occasion for them.

‘It’s a really difficult challenge. I hear people talking about Manchester United, they’re this or they’re that, and the truth of it is they have got top players.

Former United striker Robins leads Championship side Coventry out at Wembley on Sunday for only the second semi-final in the club’s history

His team will face a Manchester United side struggling under manager Erik ten Hag

‘You have to go into this game understanding what the threats are, and they are significant. They have got top players. You have got to understand that. 

‘For people who are saying United are this or that, or that they concede a lot of shots, you’re talking about a team that is full of top players, top international players, that are playing at that level every week. We know they are clearly favourites to win this game by a million miles.

‘We know what we are likely to encounter but also we have to play a part in this game in as positive way as possible. It’s a big occasion, one of the biggest games that most of our players have played in but there shouldn’t be any fear.’

While it’s Coventry’s first FA Cup semi-final since the Sky Blues lifted the trophy in 1987, trips to Wembley have become recent commonplace. They lost the Championship play-off final there to Luton last year as well as victories in the EFL Trophy final in 2017 against Oxford and the League Two play-off final a year later against Exeter.

‘I’ve tried to talk to the players, the ones that haven’t been to Wembley before,’ added Robins. ‘They may hear the noise when we get there tomorrow because the Manchester City-Chelsea game will be going on. They may hear that but they won’t feel it until they walk into the stadium and in front of all the support when the stadium is full.

‘It’s just sort of trying to mentally prepare them a little bit but it can’t prepare you for what the reality is when you walk out into the stadium and the noise reverberates all around the stadium. They’ve got to be ready.’

Robins will always live in United FA Cup folklore. His winner against Forest in the third round in 1990 is long credited – as well as debated – as being the one that saved Ferguson’s job.

United went on to win the FA Cup that year, with Robins also scoring the winner off the bench against Oldham in the semi-final, and the rest is history.

Robins, though, has little interest in reminiscing when he’s got a game to win.

‘Honestly, I don’t think about that,’ he said. ‘I’m proud of taking the team out at Wembley but I’m proud of everybody. It’s always a team effort.

Robins will always live in United FA Cup folklore. His winner against Forest in the third round in 1990 is long credited – as well as debated – as being the one that saved Ferguson’s job

‘I’ve got no agenda other than trying to prepare the team the best we can to go on and put on a performance that we can be proud of and stand a chance in a game that we know is really difficult. For me, it’s not about anything other than that. It’s not about me that’s for sure.’

Robins also slammed the decision to scrap FA Cup replays next season as a ‘kick in the teeth’ for lower league clubs.

The FA announced on Thursday that there would be no replays from the first round onwards as part of a new six-year agreement between the FA and the Premier League.

‘It is difficult because you look and those clubs, the grassroots and the EFL and below are all part of the pyramid that needs to feed each other and eventually feeds the Premier League,’ said Robins.

‘There’s a lot of players that come out of academies from Premier league teams that get training and get game-time, the understanding, the experience and go back and then they go and make it at clubs. Sometimes they get into international teams. We have all played our part in that development. That should never be underestimated or forgotten.

‘There are other things that may have happened, like replays up to the third round that doesn’t impact on the bigger clubs. Teams that have made this decision, or the FA and the Premier League. 

‘At the end of the day, it does kick everybody in the teeth that are below that level, there’s no doubt about it but it is what it si. There’s nothing we can do about that apart from voice concerns and maybe there’s a rethink or whatever for those clubs. It is really difficult for them to come terms with.’