Will Coventry City defy the odds and beat Manchester United in today’s FA Cup semi-final, which kicks off at 3.30 pm and is live on ITV?
Probably not, but the last time I made a ‘sure-fire’ Wembley prediction I was left with egg on my face and 30,000 Wolves fans chanting that I was a ‘‘****er’’.
That was the League Cup final in 1980. The game was played on my 35th birthday, March 15, and Wolves beat the holders and European champions Nottingham Forest 1-0.
My heavy prediction was used as pre-match motivation by Wolves boss John Barnwell.
So let me just say this time that I will be delighted if the Sky Blues win today. But my head says no way!
Having said that, you could call the Sky Blues manager Mark ‘Wembley’ Robins. The national stadium has been almost like a second home to him during his second spell in charge.
He won the EFL Trophy there in 2017, the League Two play-offs final in 2018 and then there was last season’s heartbreaking penalty shoot-out defeat to Luton Town in the Championship play-offs final.
As a Manchester United striker, Robins came on after three minutes of extra time in the 1990 FA Cup final against Crystal Palace, which finished 3-3 on May 12. The replay five days later was 1-0 to United, with Robins an unused substitute.
That year’s Charity Shield finished 1-1........