Wolves manager Gary O’Neil labels Mark Robins’ behaviour as ‘disgusting’ after the Coventry boss left a young ball boy distressed following late FA Cup winner at Molineux

Furious Wolves boss Gary O’Neil labelled Mark Robins’ behaviour ‘disgusting’ after the Coventry boss’ celebrations at his side’s FA Cup quarter-final win left a ball boy distressed.

Robins apologised ‘unreservedly’ for his conduct after Haji Wright’s winner in the 100th minute, when he raced down the touchline and crowed in the face of the youngster, said to be 13.

‘They are just kids doing a job and the boy is really upset,’ said O’Neil. ‘It was really important for me to speak to Mark about it afterwards.

‘To celebrate in a young boy’s face like that I thought was disgusting. It shouldn’t happen. I waited for Mark downstairs and spoke to him because I was really respectful at the end, having lost a massive game.

‘I waited for them to finish their celebrations, shook everyone’s hands, congratulated them on a real good performance, reaching Wembley and told them what a fantastic achievement it was.’

A furious O’Neil labelled Mark Robins’ behaviour ‘disgusting’ as the Coventry boss celebrated his side’s late winner

Robins blamed his reaction on the emotion of the game. Coventry trailed 2-1 at the start of nine minutes’ stoppage time but goals from Ellis Simms – his second – and Haji Wright sent them to Wembley in the FA Cup for the first time since they won it in 1987.

Robins said: ‘I have an apology to make. He’s a young kid, so I’m apologising to him. He has the ball in his hand, drops it and walks away smiling.

‘It really annoyed me but he is a kid. I have reacted, we scored a goal and I’ve gone and celebrated in front of him. I don’t show emotion very often but I did today and that is what the FA Cup does to you. I apologise unreservedly to him.’

It is unclear at this stage whether Robins could face any further action for the celebration. 

‘His side had led for a long time thanks to Simms’ strike at the start of the second half but late Wolves goals from Rayan Ait-Nouri and substitute Hugo Bueno looked to have turned the tie back in Wolves’ favour.

In a further blow to O’Neil, star forward Pedro Neto may miss the rest of the season with the hamstring injury that ruled him out of this clash.

Robins blamed his reaction on the emotion of the game as his side secured passage to the FA Cup semi-finals

Coventry scored twice in stoppage time to turn the game on its head and win the encounter