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Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke has earned a terrific reputation for trusting and developing academy and young talents throughout his career.

The German boss unearthed a number of impressive youngsters during his previous spell in English football with Norwich City, including James Maddison, Max Aarons, Emiliano Buendia, Andrew Omobamidele, and Ben Godfrey, among others.

Whites supporters, therefore, had reason to be excited about the development of the club's prospects when the tactician arrived at Elland Road last summer.

The emergence of Archie Gray as a regular starter for Leeds, at the age of 17, this season has been a perfect example of Farke's faith in young players.

He has started 26 matches for the Whites in the Championship so far this term and has nailed down his position at right-back, although new signing Connor Roberts will now be hoping to put pressure on that.

However, the club did opt to cash in on one of their academy talents in January as forward Sean McGurk, who impressed at youth level, joined Swindon Town on a permanent basis.

The exciting young attacker caught the eye with his contributions in the academy and supporters may have questioned why the 20-year-old was allowed to depart.

Leeds can forget about and move on from McGurk, though, as they have another promising whiz in their academy set-up who could be Mateo Joseph 2.0 in 19-year-old gem Luca Thomas.

Mateo Joseph's first-team emergence

Another U21 starlet who has been given opportunities this season is Joseph. The centre-forward started against Plymouth Argyle in the FA Cup on Tuesday and has emerged as a genuine first-team option.

He did not register a goal or an assist for the side in his 81 minutes on the pitch but that does not paint the full picture as there were plenty of positive signs throughout his performance.

Joseph was, for example, incredibly unfortunate not to score his first senior goal for Leeds as Conor Hazard pulled off a sensational save to tip the England U20 international's shot over the bar.

The Whites prospect brilliantly created a shooting opportunity by beating a defender in the box with a sharp shift of the ball and fired in a fizzing effort that looked bound for the top corner, only for the goalkeeper to get a hand to it.

He looked energetic and eager to make a positive impression on Farke in his time on the pitch, and could be gutted not to have found the back of the net.

Joseph, who has made seven appearances in the Championship this season, was prolific at U21 level with a return of 19 goals in 33 matches for the club's academy.

The 20-year-old marksman caught Farke's eye with his return and has earned himself ten senior outings under the German boss, which – along with his start on Tuesday – suggests that he is doing enough to maintain a position in the first-team squad.

McGurk, however, seemingly did not do enough to earn himself a chance to impress in the Championship or the cup competitions before his move to Swindon.

McGurk's academy form for Leeds

The 20-year-old winger joined Leeds from Wigan in the summer of 2021 and had been in solid form for the club's U21 side during the first half of the campaign.

He racked up four goals and three assists in eight Premier League 2 matches for the U21s, which shows that the young talent was consistently contributing at the top end of the pitch.

That impressive form is what could have caused supporters to possibly question why McGurk joined League Two side Swindon on a permanent deal in January.

However, his performances this season did come off the back of two relatively unimpressive seasons for Leeds at that level and the club may have felt that his attacking exploits this term were a flash in the pan.

McGurk produced three goals and one assist in 19 Premier League 2 games throughout the 2021/22 campaign and followed that up with three goals and one assist in 15 matches the following term.

In total, the former Wigan starlet scored ten goals and provided seven assists in 48 U21 appearances in all competitions during his time at Elland Road, which is a return of one goal involvement every 2.82 outings on average.

Luca Thomas' first-team potential

Leeds supporters should not worry too much about the sale of McGurk as the Whites may already have their next Joseph to emerge in the first-team as an attacking option in U21 star Thomas.

The 19-year-old ace is a versatile forward who can play in a multitude of positions across the front line; centre-forward, right wing, left wing, and attacking midfield.

That versatility could increase his chances of breaking into Farke's squad as he has the ability to provide cover in multiple areas of the pitch, rather than being limited to one or two positions.

Appearances

32

Goals

23

Assists

Three

As you can see in the table above, Thomas burst onto the scene at U18 level with a phenomenal record in front of goal, which included 22 goals in 29 U18 Premier League appearances.

The teenage gem has been a regular for the U21s so far this season and has contributed with four goals and one assist in eight Premier League 2 clashes.

Thomas, who U21 commentator Thomas Hill hailed for his "class" display against Brighton, has not racked up as many goal involvements as McGurk, who had two more assists, but his output for the U18s may suggest that his form is more sustainable in the long-term.

The academy dynamo has consistently delivered, across multiple age groups, in front of goal, as shown by the aforementioned statistics, and adapted to each step up.

Whereas, McGurk's first two seasons at U21 level left a lot to be desired and his overall body of work did not suggest that he was likely to make a big impact in the first-team, hence his move to League Two.

Thomas, on the other hand, has consistently showcased his attacking quality for the U18s and the U21s and should now target the senior squad as his next step, as he could be the next Mateo Joseph to emerge from the academy as a forward option for Farke and Leeds.

Liverpool have made a significant decision over signing a "quick" trophy-winning ace in the January transfer window, according to a fresh report.

Andre linked with Liverpool move

The Reds completely rebuilt their midfield back in the summer, with Jurgen Klopp identifying it as the area of the pitch that needed the most changes made to it.

Out went the likes of Fabinho, Jordan Henderson and James Milner, among others, while Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch all moved to Anfield.

While it has made a clear difference this season, with Liverpool finding themselves in the thick of a Premier League title battle with Manchester City and Arsenal, they have also constantly been linked with a move for Fluminense midfielder Andre.

The 22-year-old recently tasted Copa Libertadores glory with the Brazilian Serie A outfit – they also lost to City in the Club World Cup final – and he is seen as someone who could win plenty of caps for Brazil, making four appearances to date for his country.

Liverpool make big Andre decision

According to a new report from Football Insider, however, Liverpool have pulled out of a move for Andre, with Fulham now in pole position to sign him instead.

"Liverpool are set to end their interest in Fluminense midfielder Andre as he closes in on a move to Fulham.

"The Merseysiders, alongside Arsenal and Tottenham, held a strong interest in the 22-year-old Copa Libertadores winner. The Reds wanted to make the defensive midfielder part of their midfield rebuild – which saw the likes of Alexis Mac Allister, Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch arrive at Anfield. But Fulham have now stolen a march on their Premier League rivals and look the firm favourites to land Andre when the January transfer window opens."

Liverpool's interest in Andre does appear to have been wavering a little in recent weeks, and it is disappointing to hear that they seemingly won't be pursuing a move for him. The young Brazilian looks like a top-quality player for many years to come, and he has been lauded by South America football expert Tim Vickery, who has said of him:

"So, he’s quick. He’s quick around the field, he’s quick running back. They also pass out from the back in an almost suicidal manner, which means he’s continually having to receive the ball close to his own goal under pressure. So these are really honed skills that are useful for a Jurgen Klopp side. That high defensive line, that space there to cover."

Andre's Serie A stats this season	Total
Appearances	31
Tackles per game	1.8
Dribbles per game	1.2
Pass completion rate	94.8%
Yellow cards	11

Andre was also hailed as a "leader" of the team amid the Brazilian outfit's triumph in the Copa Libertadores by talent scout Jacek Kulig.

At this point, it would be a surprise if Liverpool signed a new midfielder in January, with Klopp potentially content with the options he has judging by their start to the campaign, even though the lack of an elite defensive midfielder could potentially prove to be an issue as the season goes on.

Mac Allister has grown into the role, but still looks naturally happier as a No 8, while Endo is another who has improved, but is perhaps considered more of a squad player.

There is no denying that Everton have responded courageously in the face of adversity of late, notably picking up four successive Premier League victories in the early weeks of December, despite suffering the blow of receiving a ten-point deduction.

At that stage, it looked as if the Toffees would still be able to comfortably stave off the drop even with that hefty points deduction, although the situation has shifted dramatically of late, with Sean Dyche's men now just a point above the relegation zone.

With Luton Town picking up successive wins and with the Goodison outfit losing to both Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City over the Christmas period, the club's top-flight survival now looks far less like a certainty.

With Dyche and co now in need of a positive result away to Wolverhampton Wanderers tomorrow afternoon to help lift the mood, the former Burnley boss could make two changes to his starting lineup.

1

GK – Jordan Pickford

Wednesday's defeat to the champions is not one that Jordan Pickford will look back on fondly, with the England international playing his part in the eventual 3-1 loss, notably squandering possession in the build-up to Bernardo Silva's late stunner.

That moment of madness had come after the experienced stopper was also beaten from range by Phil Foden, although it would be a real shock to see him dropped at Molineux.

2

RB – Nathan Patterson

Tasked with curtailing the impact of Jack Grealish down the left flank, Nathan Patterson 'worked hard to defend doggedly' in midweek – as per Liverpool Echo's Chris Beesley – and deserves to keep his place.

3

CB – James Tarkowski

Now regularly taking on the captain's armband in the absence of Seamus Coleman, Tarkowski will be seeking to continue his run of starting in every Premier League game this season and should be fit to feature despite sitting out training on Thursday with a knock.

4

CB – Jarrad Branthwaite

The in-demand gem continues to put himself in the shop window with his sparkling displays at the heart of the defence, having looked so composed again in midweek, recording a solid 92% pass accuracy rate and losing possession on just four occasions.

5

LB – Vitaliy Mykolenko

Fresh from 'another smart showing' against Pep Guardiola's men, as per Beesley, the Ukrainian full-back will be trusted yet again from the start against Gary O'Neil's men.

6

CM – Andre Gomes

While the Portuguese playmaker was not at his best in midweek – recording just 22 touches in his 65-minute outing – his return from injury has been a welcome sight for the Toffees, with a run of games needed to get him back up to full speed.

7

CM – James Garner

While Amadou Onana was harshly penalised for handball on Wednesday night, that came amid an all-round difficult display for the Belgian as he lost the ball on 12 occasions and won just two duels, putting his place in the starting XI at risk for the trip to the Midlands.

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If the former Lille man is to return to the bench, it could see James Garner drop back into a slightly deeper role, with Idrissa Gueye sidelined and Abdoulaye Doucoure facing a late fitness test.

8

RM – Jack Harrison

It was Harrison who got Everton off to the perfect start in midweek after netting against his former employers, taking his season tally to two goals and three assists in the top flight in the process.

9

CAM – Arnaut Danjuma

Amid the doubts surrounding Doucoure's fitness, it could be a rare chance for Danjuma to line up from the start, with the on-loan forward making just three league starts this season.

While typically an option from the flanks, the Netherlands international can also feature more centrally – as he did when scoring 16 goals during the 2021/22 campaign for Villarreal.

10

LM – Dwight McNeil

So often the man to unlock the door for his side, Dwight McNeil – who leads the way among his Toffees teammates with five assists – will yet again provide quality service from the flanks, having teed up Harrison in midweek.

Add this to the legend of MS Dhoni. If Dwayne Bravo is to be believed, there are no team meetings at Chennai Super Kings. They don’t plan beforehand; they just rock up and rely on their experience to devise plans on the go.A good example of it was how Bravo recovered from a poor start with the ball. He was brought on in the 14th over of Delhi Capitals’ innings, which meant the unenviable task of bowling overs 14, 16, 18 and 20. It leaves no room for error, but Bravo made errors in his first over. The first ball was a slower one. Edged for four. Next one a wide down the leg side. Fourth ball was slower, and put away again, followed by a missed yorker that went for another four. Seventeen runs in the over.Dhoni, though, persisted with Bravo, who ended up with the wickets of Rishabh Pant, Shikhar Dhawan and Colin Ingram. A chat between overs helped Bravo. “Seventeen runs in the first over,” Bravo said. “The first one was an edge. The second one was a low full toss. It was just a matter of poor execution on my part. I learnt from my previous over. The conditions were helping me in terms of not to use much variations but try to bowl a lot more seam-up. So, that was the game-plan and MS definitely wanted me to bowl a lot straighter with no slower balls. Just straight, on to the wicket, with good pace – and that’s what I did in the second over.”If you look at it today, I bowled a lot more effort balls than in other games. Normally I bowl slower balls, a lot of variations, yorkers. But today the wicket wasn’t suitable for those type of deliveries. Again, MS knew exactly what is required, and he also knew he can count on me any time to deliver for him.”Surely batting with Dhoni, who is unlike other batsmen and takes games deeper than others, requires different planning for batsmen? “We don’t plan,” Bravo said, without any discernible hint of mirth. “We don’t have team meetings. We don’t plan. We just turn up, go with the flow on any given day. So yeah we just watch the situation and adjust and adapt quickly. That’s where the experience comes in.”That experience wasn’t spoken of kindly last year by many, but now everybody is crediting that experience for their wins. For example, Super Kings just knew they had to cause the damage with the new ball when they were batting because this was a slow pitch. Shane Watson carried out that damage and broke the back of the chase within the Powerplay.”We proved last season, you know, age is just a number,” Bravo said. “Whenever people talked about the CSK team, they brought in the age factor. We are not 60 years old, yeah. We are 35, 30, 32… We are still young; we look after ourselves, we look after our body, and we have a lot of experience, and don’t matter what, you can’t beat experience in any sport, in any tournament. In anything you just cannot beat experience.”We know we are not the fastest team on the field. We play within our strengths, we know our weaknesses. We play smart. That is the most important thing. And we are well led by the best captain in the world, and he keeps reminding us that we’re not the fastest team, but we can be the smartest team.”

GOAL takes a looks at the worst instances English clubs faced point deductions.

Sheffield United could have become the third Premier League side to be axed points in 2023-24, but for their punishment to be postponed until transfer back to the Championship.

The English Football League (EFL) hit Sheffield United with a two-point deduction, with a further two-point deduction that will take effect at the end of said season.

Everton were handed a six-point deduction by the Premier League, and have received another two-point penalty, while Nottingham Forest have decided to appeal in an attempt to overturn the four-point deduction.

As Chelsea reportedly face the threat of a “more severe” points deduction than Everton and Nottingham Forest, and Manchester City have been warned they could face "expulsion" from the English top flight, GOAL takes a look at the worst punishments in English football…

Leeds United | 15 points | 2007-08

Leeds United were forced to begin their 2007-08 League One campaign with -15 points as a result of failing to comply with the EFL's rules on insolvency.

The club's appeal didn't bear any fruit either, with a majority voting against a reduction of the imposed penalty on the Whites.

Incredibly, however, Leeds would go on to survive the season in the Football League and end up losing the play-off final.

AdvertisementBournemouth | 17 points | 2008-09

A little worse than Leeds, on account of leaving administration without a Company Voluntary Agreement, Bournemouth were 17 points shy of zero at the beginning of their run in the 2008-09 League Two season.

Besides the 10-point deduction from the previous season in League One which resulted in their demotion, the club had to accept the punishment and agree not to appeal in order to play in League Two.

However, then Cherries manager Eddie Howe took over the reins from Jimmy Quinn midway through the season and successfully lived up to the challenge – helping the side finish 21st on the table, nine points clear of the drop zone.

Rotherham United | 17 points | 2008-09

Just like Bournemouth, Rotherham United also accepted their fate in the form of a 17-point deduction after being unable to satisfy the normal conditions of Football League rules for exiting administration.

It was in the same season and in the same competition – the 2008-09 League Two campaign – and the Millers incredibly finished 14th on the table with 58 points on the board.

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Derby County | 21 points | 2021-22

in the most recent case, before Everton, a 21-point deduction for Wayne Rooney's Derby County in 2021 was a hard pill to swallow.

The Rams entered administration and were deducted 12 points by the EFL at the start of the 2021-22 Championship season, with another nine points docked by November on account of financial irregularities.

Despite throwing in a tough fight, the team would finish 23 points short of safety and were relegated to League One.

Nicholas Pooran, the West Indies and Northern Warriors batsman, believes the T10 League can further increase scores in both T20s and 50-over cricket, a potential knock-on effect of cricket’s shortest format.Pooran has been a revelation this season in Sharjah and following his 43* from 18 balls on Thursday night, now has the tournament’s highest score (77), the most sixes this season (24) and is the edition’s third-highest run scorer after five games. In contrast, Pooran managed scores of 20 and 1 in his two knock last season.”The T10 League is definitely taking the game to a higher level and it is obviously going to help increase the scores in the 20-over format and the One-Day Internationals,” Pooran said after Warriors’ win over Kerala Knights.Australian James Faulkner, who plays for Maratha Arabians, also believes T10 is amplifying run-scoring and this will subsequently be felt in other formats.”I think when T20 first burst on the scene, everyone didn’t know what to expect and there was so much pressure with every ball,” he said. “Now it’s gone up a level, you can’t miss whatever delivery you’re going to bowl whether it’s a slower ball, bouncer, yorker. If you miss it’s going to be a boundary.”On Thursday, Warriors chased down 102 with 16 balls left. Yet, that is nothing for T10, as highlighted by the Warriors’ 183 for 2 earlier in the tournament, when Pooran recorded the league’s highest score.Pooran’s foreshadowing didn’t need long to find further substance as the Bengal Tigers took the night’s second match to a final ball in successfully chasing Sindhi’s target of 135.With 265 sixes and 240 fours in 20 matches so far it’s easy to see the naked ambition of the batsmen. Their aim is to clear the rope as often as possible and for Pooran it’s clearly paying off, his form absolutely rampant as we head into the final stages of the tournament.As more teams clear 400 with alarming regularity in ODIs – attributed as a knock-on from the influence of T20 cricket – you can expect more and more T20 scores to eclipse 200 and 50-over totals to continue to soar as T10 becomes a more regular fixture on the cricketing calendar.Speaking to people around the tournament over the past two weeks suggest is is a matter of time before T10 infiltrates more dates on the schedule. Bowlers, take care. It’s not safe out there and it’s not getting any safer.

Liverpool's midfield rebuild during the summer transfer window was extensive to say the least. Out went Jordan Henderson, Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, James Milner and Fabinho, and in came Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo, Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch. Swapping the old for the new has since paid dividends, however, with the Reds sitting just one point adrift of Premier League leaders Manchester City, who they play next in their return from the international break.

The summer transfer window failed to see the arrival of one specific type of player though, and Liverpool have once again been left exposed at times as a result. The January transfer window should give them the opportunity to solve a glaring issue and that could see the arrival of a long-term target.

Liverpool transfer news

After such a summer overhaul, it was difficult to know what to expect from Jurgen Klopp's new-look side. Some may have expected them to take a while to get going, given that the Reds had an entirely new midfield to work with. But that's been anything but the case. Instead, Liverpool have been flying. The likes of Szoboszlai and Gravenberch have settled straight in. Now, if they can solve their defensive midfield problem, Klopp's side could become serious title challengers once more.

As good as Mac Allister is, he is not a defensive midfielder, which has been exposed for all to see at times. Alas, reports do suggest that those at Anfield are attempting to find a solution in that area. According to Goal in Brazil, Liverpool have made contact with Fluminense over a potential deal for Andre Trindade.

It's no secret that the midfielder has attracted a lot of admirers, with Fulham also reportedly enquiring about the Fluminense man. If either of the Premier League sides want to sign Andre, it will reportedly cost them at least €35m (£31m) in January. Andre's value is at a higher point than ever before, with the player at the absolute peak of his power currently.

"Perfect" Andre could be the final piece to Liverpool's rebuild

When looking at the current Liverpool side, only the defensive midfield role stands out as something they can strengthen. If they find a natural defensive midfielder, not only will they complete their rebuild in the middle of the park, but they'll also finally get the best out of Mac Allister in his preferred role. Andre's stats stand out compared to the Argentine's in a full season.

Player

Progressive Passes Per 90

Tackles Won Per 90

Blocks Per 90

Andre Trindade

6.43

1.40

0.97

Alexis Mac Allister

5.42

1.21

0.81

As a result of his performances, Andre has earned deserved praise, including from Maurício Alencar, who said via Liverpool Echo: "Andre plays more as a six; he is obviously very strong and agile, really good on the ball, plays two-touch football, great first touch. He is always appearing in those pockets of space between the defence and midfield, and the midfield and attack sometimes. He is a very versatile player.

“I think he is a cut above the rest of the Fluminense squad, and when I watch Brazilian matches, he is always a standout player, so I am surprised he has yet to move to Europe.”

He then went onto say: "He is the perfect player that Liverpool need, playing from the back and being able to intercept. He is very quick to react to the loss of the ball and reading the game.”

MatériaMais Notícias

No estádio Olímpico, o Ituano surpreendeu o Vila Nova e venceu por 2 a 1. Com o placar, o time de São Paulo começa com o pé direito a Segunda Fase.

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Na próxima rodada, o Vila Nova mede forças com o Santa Cruz, no Arruda. O Ituano encara o Brusque, em Itu.

O duelo

Com o duelo movimentado desde o início, o primeiro gol não demorou a sair. Aos 8 minutos, a jogada coletiva do Vila Nova saiu e Henan, saiu na cara do goleiro. Com calma, o atacante bateu cruzado e colocou o Tigre em vantagem.

Sem se intimidar, o Ituano foi em busca do empate e conseguiu antes do intervalo. O Vila errou na saída de jogo e Bruno Mota acionou Gabriel Tallari, que não desperdiçou, 1 a 1.

A virada veio na etapa final. Na cobrança de falta, Fillipe Souto disparou um canhão de fora da área e acertou o ângulo, 2 a 1.

MatériaMais Notícias

O lateral-direito Léo pediu intensidade máxima da equipe do Vitória visando a sequência da competição. Segundo o jogador, a meta de todos precisa estar unicamente voltada para melhorar o desempenho em campo para o Leão da Barra se afastar de vez do Z4.

Há três rodadas sem perder na competição depois de bater o Sampaio Corrêa e empatar com Ponte Preta e Náutico, a análise feita pelo lateral é que o time precisa se manter pontuando:

– Vamos lutar muito para que a equipe possa melhorar seu desempenho em campo nestas próximas semanas e para manter essa sequência positiva para nos afastarmos do Z4. Esse é o objetivo principal agora para respirarmos na competição. O grupo sabe que precisa crescer de produção para alcançar seus objetivos na disputa. Vamos continuar nos dedicando ao máximo para terminarmos bem o ano.

Ainda de acordo com Léo, o duelo de sábado (28) com o CRB no Barradão tem caráter absolutamente decisivo mesmo com o adversário estando na metade de cima da tabela com 32 pontos em nono lugar. Nesse momento, o Vitória é o 16° com 26 unidades.

– A gente vai enfrentar uma equipe forte, que vem de derrota na competição e precisa se recuperar, mas estaremos em casa e precisamos impor nosso ritmo de jogo. Não podemos nem pensar em outro resultado que não seja a vitória. É um confronto decisivo – encerrou o jogador.

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USMNT striker Haji Wright was the hero as Coventry City completed an insane comeback against Wolves in stoppage time to knock them out of the FA Cup.

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Coventry 2-1 down going into stoppage timeBut remarkable turnaround seals 3-2 winWright has hand in both late goalsWHAT HAPPENED?

The English Championship side were 2-1 down heading into stoppage time against the Premier League club in Saturday's quarter-final. But a goal in both the 97th and 100th minutes of play sealed a remarkable comeback to land Coventry's spot in the FA Cup semi-finals. Wright had a hand in the first and scored the second with a fine finish, causing Coventry and USMNT fans alike to go wild on social media.

AdvertisementWATCH THE GOALWHAT THE FANS ARE SAYING

MLS pundit Keith Costigan couldn't contain his excitement, writing on X: "Haji Wright!!!!!!!!!! What a moment for him and Coventry. On to their first FA Cup semi final in 37 years." Other fans echoed his sentiments, such as @tsnmknd who wrote: "Haji Wright buzzer beater".

Astute viewers appreciated Wright's role in both Coventry goals. @CalcioNJ wrote "His cross led to game-tying goal too. What a season he's having" while @jrojersey added "Unreal layoff and fantastic finish".

Naturally, such displays saw calls for USMNT coach Gregg Berhalter to take note after Wright was snubbed in his latest Nations League squad. @bretjustin96 said: "Greg needs to call him up right now after that performance" while @bangladeshilad was more brutal, adding: "Berhalter be selecting mid like Pepi over this guy".

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Getty ImagesWHAT THE PUNDITS ARE SAYING

Elsewhere, pundits hailed the 'magic of the cup', with former England striker Gary Lineker writing on X: "Incredible win for @Coventry_City . Absolutely superb. 👏🏻👏🏻"

Ex-Liverpool striker Stan Collymore added: "If you love football and missed Wolves v Coventry, give it a watch. The 99 mins. The best of English football in a nutshell. No robotic possession, just two local teams with a large away following playing fearless attacking football. It's what sets English football apart. Nothing like it, anywhere."