Wrexham beat Coventry in seven-goal thriller

2 years ago 104

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National League Wrexham knocked Championship side Coventry out of the FA Cup in a seven-goal thriller.

Early goals from Sam Dalby and Elliot Lee got Wrexham off to a dream start before Ben Sheaf halved the deficit.

Thomas O'Connor got Wrexham's third before Paul Mullin's penalty looked to have sealed the win, with Jonathan Panzo also sent off for handball.

But substitute Viktor Gyokeres got one back for the 10 men and Kasey Palmer's free-kick set up a grandstand finish.

But Wrexham held on despite late chances for the hosts and it is they who will be in the draw for the FA Cup fourth round for the first time since 2000.

The National League side took the lead 12 minutes into the contest, Dalby rising highest between two Coventry defenders to head Wrexham ahead.

Just five minutes later Wrexham got their second, as Lee's back-post cross searching for Mullin caught out Simon Moore in the Coventry goal and went straight in to the delight of the travelling fans behind the goal.

The Championship side found a way back into the contest before half-time when Martyn Waghorn laid the ball off to Sheaf to stroke home from near the penalty spot.

Coventry were on top for the first time in the contest but in first-half added time Wrexham got their third when Luke Young's header was nodded back across goal by Dalby for O'Connor to head home.

Things went from bad to worse in the second half for Coventry, as Panzo blocked Max Cleworth's goal-bound effort with his arm and was shown a straight red card.

From the resulting penalty Mullin stepped up calmly to send Moore the wrong way and score Wrexham's fourth.

After hitting the post Palmer set up Gyokeres, the Sweden international finishing from close range to reduce Wrexham's lead to two.

And with 15 minutes to play Wrexham's lead was down to one, as Palmer's curling free-kick beat Howard, who was rooted to the spot.

Gyokeres almost levelled from a tight angle but Howard just did enough to push the rising effort onto the post.

Coventry continued to throw everything at Wrexham, Palmer's sliding effort coming closest, but they just could not find a way through in the closing stages as the National League side booked their place in the fourth round.

Line-ups

Coventry

Formation 3-4-1-2

1Moore
4Rose
27BidwellBooked at 83mins
2PanzoBooked at 57mins
23DaboSubstituted forDoyleat 62'minutes
6KellySubstituted forHamerat 70'minutes
14Sheaf
32BurroughsSubstituted forKaneat 70'minutes
45Palmer
9WaghornSubstituted forAllenat 70'minutes
30Tavares DesidérioSubstituted forGyökeresat 35'minutes

Substitutes

3Doyle
8Allen
13Wilson
17Gyökeres
20Kane
22Reid
36Howley
38Hamer
47Nee

Wrexham

Formation 5-3-2

21Howard
2Hall-JohnsonSubstituted forFordeat 81'minutes
32Cleworth
4TozerBooked at 90mins
6Tunnicliffe
3McFadzeanSubstituted forMcAlindenat 73'minutesBooked at 88mins
38LeeSubstituted forJonesat 81'minutes
8YoungBooked at 90mins
22O'Connor
10MullinBooked at 45minsSubstituted forPalmerat 68'minutes
18DalbyBooked at 16mins

Substitutes

1Lainton
9Palmer
11McAlinden
14Forde
20Cannon
24Butler
26Lennon
27Bickerstaff
30Jones

Referee:Tom Nield

Attendance:18,218

Live Text

Match ends, Coventry City 3, Wrexham 4.
Second Half ends, Coventry City 3, Wrexham 4.
Foul by Michael Rose (Coventry City).
James Jones (Wrexham) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Ben Tozer (Wrexham) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Corner, Coventry City. Conceded by Max Cleworth.
Attempt missed. Kasey Palmer (Coventry City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is too high.
Attempt blocked. Ben Sheaf (Coventry City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Luke Young (Wrexham) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Jamie Allen (Coventry City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Luke Young (Wrexham).
Corner, Coventry City. Conceded by Mark Howard.
Attempt saved. Todd Kane (Coventry City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
Liam McAlinden (Wrexham) is shown the yellow card.
Attempt blocked. Gustavo Hamer (Coventry City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Attempt saved. Viktor Gyökeres (Coventry City) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the top right corner.
Attempt saved. Jamie Allen (Coventry City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Jake Bidwell (Coventry City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Jake Bidwell (Coventry City).
Luke Young (Wrexham) wins a free kick on the right wing.