Coventry stun Wolves in FA Cup derby madness as £27m star puts himself in shop window

Coventry City scored two stoppage-time goals to send Midlands rivals Wolves crashing out of the FA Cup quarter-finals in dramatic circumstances. The Sky Blues reached the semis courtesy of a battling 3-2 win at Molineux, with Wolves star Rayan Ait-Nouri’s superb performance ultimately counting for nothing.

Coventry were the better side throughout, raining 24 shots on Jose Sa’s goal but ultimately failing to find a breakthrough in the first half, with Ellis Simms and Milan van Ewijk among those to miss high-quality chances.

The contest erupted in the second period, however, as Simms fumbled in from close range in the 53rd minute. Coventry looked as though they would be made to pay for their missed chances when Ait-Nouri and Hugo Bueno turned the game around for Wolves late on, but Coventry refused to lie down and forced stunning drama in stoppage time.

Simms was on target again at the back post in the seventh minute added on with the game seemingly bound for extra-time. But match-winner Haji Wright had other ideas, dispatching a cool, calm finish in the 100th minute to spark wild celebrations from the away fans.

Coventry are into the semi-finals at Wembley for the first time since winning the FA Cup in 1987. But it was heartbreak for Wolves, who missed out despite going into the game heavily fancied and looked to have battled through just minutes before the final whistle.

Ait-Nouri was superb in a range of positions – initially starting on the left before playing as a central striker later in the game – and his 83rd-minute volley was well taken.

The Algerian international, rated at £27million by Transfermarkt, sparkled again five minutes later as he picked up the ball on the halfway line, drove towards the penalty area and laid it on a plate for Bueno to slot home what Wolves thought was the winner.

Although the match ended in heartbreak, Ait-Nouri will have done his chances of earning a big-money move no harm. His goal, assist and all-round performance undoubtedly sent a powerful message to the likes of Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City, who are reportedly keeping tabs on him ahead of the summer transfer window.