Harry Maguire has praised Coventry City’s brave performance in the FA Cup semi-final clash at Wembley – but says the Sky Blues should not have been awarded the penalty that allowed them to take the tie to extra-time.
Manchester United seemed to be coasting to a routine win when Bruno Fernandes scored a third goal to add to Scott McTominay’s and Maguire’s first half header. But Ellis Simms grabbed one back with 19 minutes to go and the game exploded into life.
Callum O’Hare saw his deflected shot loop over the goalkeeper for 3-2 and then Aaron Wan-Bissaka was adjudged to have handled an injury time cross which gave Haji Wright the chance to level for 3-3 from the penalty spot. The Sky Blues had a goal dramatically ruled out in extra time and ended up losing the shoot-out as O’Hare and Ben Sheaf missed.
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Maguire was gracious with his praise afterwards but disputed the decision against United’s right back.
“We found a way,” Maguire told ITV Sport. “We started the game really well, really professional then we conceded a sloppy goal and it felt like the first and second goals for them came out of nowhere, really unfortunate to see the second goal and it gets the crowd right behind them.
“Then a last minute penalty, which I think is so harsh, his arm’s down by his side. But all credit to Coventry, they made it really tough for us and especially that second half and extra-time.
“I think it pretty much sums the our season. I mean, we were in control of the match and we actually played really well for the first 60 minutes and then we conceded the goal out of pretty much nothing, we didn't really give them much up to then and then I don’t know. I feel like the world wanted Coventry to celebrate and they put us under pressure.
“We didn’t deal with it well enough. We didn’t keep the ball well enough. They got the penalty late on and it was tough in extra time I think the boys really felt it, but we showed great character to make sure we stuck with it, we got our heads back and to win the penalty shoot-out was really important.”
