© Reuters
Head-to-head record
Previous meetings: 84
Coventry wins: 23
Draws: 17
Man Utd wins: 44
Formerly familiar foes during Coventry's days in the Premier League, which came to an end in 2001 and have not returned since, the 84th and most recent meeting between the Sky Blues and Man United came in the 2023-24 FA Cup semi-finals, and what a mind-boggling afternoon at Wembley it was.
Cruising to the showpiece match at 3-0 up, the Red Devils blew their seemingly unassailable advantage as Coventry unbelievably brought the tie back to 3-3, but after being cruelly denied an extra-time winner due to offside, the Sky Blues were left utterly heartbroken as they bowed out on penalties.
On the other side of the knockout coin, the 2007-08 EFL Cup third round saw Coventry - then under the tutelage of Iain Dowie - travel to Old Trafford for a third-round clash with Alex Ferguson's side, but the Red Devils were far from full strength, fielding forgotten names such as Chris Eagles, Phil Bardsley and Dong Fangzhuo.
Jonny Evans - absent from the 2023-24 FA Cup semi due to injury - also started for Man United on that day, but it was an occasion to forget for Ferguson's young squad, as two strikes from Michael Mifsud propelled Coventry to a momentous 2-0 triumph.
Before teaching the fledgling Red Devils a footballing lesson on that day, though, Coventry lost six Premier League games in a row against Man United from 1998 to 2001 and only won one of their top-flight meetings after the Premier League's inception in 1992.
That sole success was a 3-2 triumph at Highfield Road in December 1997, where Dion Dublin was among the Coventry scorers, but FA Cup meetings have been few and far between down the years with just seven in total.
As well as the 2023-24 extravaganza, another memorable encounter took place in the 1986-87 season, where Coventry prevailed 1-0 in the fourth round before going on to lift their first and only FA Cup to date, but Man United had earned a 2-1 fourth-round win two years prior en route to glory.
The Red Devils have now eliminated Coventry from the FA Cup in five of their previous six showdowns, although they also needed a replay to get the job done in the 1912-13 first round before their humongous 2023-24 scare, and their overall record against the Sky Blues stands at 44 wins from 84 matches.
Meanwhile, Coventry have 23 triumphs under their belt from this fixture, in which there have also been 17 draws, but coming to within an inch of completing an FA Cup miracle is a victory in itself.
Last 20 meetings
Apr 21, 2024: Coventry 3-3 Man Utd(p) (FA Cup Semi-finals)
Sep 26, 2007: Man Utd 0-2 Coventry (League Cup Third Round)
Apr 14, 2001: Man Utd 4-2 Coventry (Premier League)
Nov 04, 2000: Coventry 1-2 Man Utd (Premier League)
Feb 05, 2000: Man Utd 3-2 Coventry (Premier League)
Aug 25, 1999: Coventry 1-2 Man Utd (Premier League)
Feb 20, 1999: Coventry 0-1 Man Utd (Premier League)
Sep 12, 1998: Man Utd 2-0 Coventry (Premier League)
Dec 28, 1997: Coventry 3-2 Man Utd (Premier League)
Aug 30, 1997: Man Utd 3-0 Coventry (Premier League)
Mar 01, 1997: Man Utd 3-1 Coventry (Premier League)
Jan 18, 1997: Coventry 0-2 Man Utd (Premier League)
Apr 08, 1996: Man Utd 1-0 Coventry (Premier League)
Nov 22, 1995: Coventry 0-4 Man Utd (Premier League)
May 01, 1995: Coventry 2-3 Man Utd (Premier League)
Jan 03, 1995: Man Utd 2-0 Coventry (Premier League)
May 08, 1994: Man Utd 0-0 Coventry (Premier League)
Nov 27, 1993: Coventry 0-1 Man Utd (Premier League)
Apr 12, 1993: Coventry 0-1 Man Utd (Premier League)
Dec 28, 1992: Man Utd 5-0 Coventry (Premier League)
Previous FA Cup meetings
Apr 21, 2024: Coventry 3-3 Man Utd(p) (Semi-finals)
Jan 31, 1987: Man Utd 0-1 Coventry (Fourth Round)
Jan 26, 1985: Man Utd 2-1 Coventry (Fourth Round)
Mar 30, 1963: Coventry 1-3 Man Utd (Quarter-finals)
Jan 16, 1913: Coventry 1-2 Man Utd (First Round replay)
Jan 11, 1913: Man Utd 1-1 Coventry (First Round)
Feb 03, 1912: Coventry 1-5 Man Utd (Second Round)
Ben Knapton
