COVENTRY UNITED'S JOSH O'GRADY COMMENTS ON THE ABANDONED FA CUP REPLAY @ SHAWBURY...

JOSH O'GRADY: NICE BOOTS...

"After the disappointment of a draw on Sunday afternoon, we then had to travel away to Shawbury on a Wednesday night for another chance to put ourselves into the next round. 

Having a bit more knowledge of Shawbury's playing style, the gaffa switched things up, going with a 4-3-3 formation, rather than playing the 5-3-2 we used on Sunday. 

It was an attacking move and seemed to be paying dividends early on with some slick passing movements, which Shawbury struggled to handle. Unfortunately nothing too clear cut was created in the first-half with just a few half-chances going wide, over the target, or being comfortably saved by their 'keeper. 

There was no doubt we were the better side though and I felt it was only a matter of time before we went ahead. Credit to Shawbury, they were defending well, throwing their bodies at our numerous attempts on their goal. 

It took a Coxy header fairly early in the second-half from a whipped cross on the left to break the deadlock. 

Shawbury then had to come at us, which they did in force, hitting the woodwork on several occasions and with some outstanding Morris saves. Then the start of the drama, with just 4 minutes plus stoppage time remaining: one of their lads went down with what seemed to be an innocuous injury. 

The longer he stayed down and once our physio' was called over, we all realised it was more serious than we first thought. An ambulance was called for and a period of roughly 45 minutes delayed the game from restarting. 

Everyone at Coventry United would just like to wish the lad a speedy recovery and hopefully it turns out not to be too serious. 

There were a lot of discussions between the referee and the management teams with the game looking in real doubt of restarting. We did however get the lads warm again and ready for the restart, when unbelievably the floodlights went off just as the lad was about to kick off again. No-one was entirely sure what had happened but it seems someone had switched the floodlights off and the game was finally abandoned. 


It will now be down to the FA to decide the outcome of the fixture after receiving the ref's match report, which could make some interesting reading. 

We may end up having to play Shawbury for a third time in a week for a full replay but we will have to wait and see..."

Josh O'Grady, Coventry United forward...