Wolves player ratings vs Coventry City: Two score 9/10s but three 5s in FA Cup classic

Wolverhampton Wanderers were knocked out of the Emirates FA Cup in agonising style as Coventry City struck twice deep in second-half stoppage time to run out 3-2 victors in a classic at Molineux on Saturday lunchtime. The Old Gold thought they'd completed a remarkable turnaround when Rayan Ait-Nouri and Hugo Bueno's late goals superseded Ellis Simms' opener but the Sky Blues fought back ahead tremendously for a famous win.

Just as you thought the game had slipped away from the Sky Bet Championship outfit, Simms stepped up with a second goal, more than making up for an earlier howler from point-blank range. The encounter then seemed destined for extra time but Coventry had other ideas as Haji Wright fired his side back into the lead in the 10th minute of added time, sending the 4,800-strong travelling support into absolute bedlam.

Wolves, having fought so hard to overturn the initial 1-0 deficit, were heartbroken as referee Sam Barrott blew his full-time whistle. A trip to Wembley Stadium will have to wait another year, but opponents Coventry thoroughly deserve their place in the semi-finals. Had it not been for Jose Sa's incredible shot-stopping, the visitors would have been out of the Old Gold's sights far earlier.

The hosts dominated possession for much of the opening half an hour but Molineux was growing frustrated by a tendency to pass backward. It took until the half-hour mark for any chances of note but they were decent ones as Mario Lemina first scuffed an effort following an impressive run to the byline Nelson Semedo. Wanderers' number 22 then had a powerful shot saved at the near post a few phases of play later.

The Sky Blues responded well and Wolves goalkeeper Sa was called into action for the first time in the 35th minute. Kasey Palmer's low effort was parried only as far as Jake Bidwell and it was played back across to Simms, who merely had to poke the ball home. But the striker's shot - if you can call it that - was dreadful as he miscued it straight at Sa. Milan van Ewijk had a good opportunity, too, as the right winger forced Sa into another save at the near post.

Coventry started the second half the brighter and took advantage, edging into the lead through Simms. A cross came in from deep to the far post and Liam Kitching nodded it back across the area for Simms to bundle it into the net, sending the Coventry support wild. A mightily long VAR check followed for a possible handball, lasting over four minutes and angering every corner of Molineux, but the goal eventually stood. It was tricky to tell if the ball flicked off Simms' arm on the way in, hence the drawn-out look.

Wolves were fired up but became increasingly sloppy in possession, allowing Coventry several opportunities in quick succession. Sa first stopped a low Haji Wright drive before Josh Eccles was denied a similar effort from outside the area. Wright then guided a header straight into Sa's arms. Tommy Doyle went agonisingly close to finding the top corner with a dipping and powerful 25-yard free-kick down the other end but the visitors looked the more likely side to score.

The momentum finally began to swing in the Old Gold's favour with around 20 minutes to go. Joao Gomes struck fiercely and nearly found the top right corner but Coventry goalkeeper Bradley Collins did excellently to dive across. Ait-Nouri was then denied by the woodwork as he attacked a Matt Doherty flick-on, prompting exasperation from the home crowd.

But then, at last, the equalising goal arrived, sending the Molineux faithful into a frenzy. Joel Latibeaudiere failed to deal with a Gomes cross and Ait-Nouri was there to convert, striking emphatically into the net for 1-1. Before Molineux could revert to a calm, the stadium erupted once again as Hugo Bueno, off the bench, ran onto an Ait-Nouri through ball and showed great composure to find the bottom right-hand corner. Everyone in gold leaped off their feet, including the Wolves bench, going nuts on the touchline.

Most thought that was it, the Old Gold would be lining Wembley Way in a few weeks’ time, but Coventry had other ideas. From nothing, the visitors charged forward on the counter with Wright crossing to Callum O'Hare. It was nodded into Simms' path and the striker got his second, bundling the ball in once more. It was already chaos in the away end but they had no idea it was to get even crazier as Wright, in the 100th minute, was fed by Simms and opened up his body before finding the bottom right corner. The intense emotions, previously poles apart in Wolves' favour, were suddenly reversed. It's torture for the hosts but pure ecstasy for Coventry.

Here are our Wolves player ratings.