Sheffield Wednesday 1-1 Coventry City: Djeidi Gassama secures Owls replay with Sky Blues

Coventry City manager Mark Robins called Sheffield Wednesday fans who booed Kasey Palmer “absolute clowns” after the sides drew at Hillsborough in the FA Cup fourth round.

Coventry players took the knee prior to kick off in a display of unity against racism, which brought a smattering of boos among the applause from fans within the ground. Palmer was also booed by a minority of Wednesday supporters during the game.

“The reaction was a disgrace,” Sky Blues boss Robins told BBC CWR.

“People need to have a look at themselves, what are they doing? Ridiculous, it’s an absolute joke.

“Kasey’s a football player, he’s got a family, wants to enjoy his football and wants to play, like everybody else. And then you’ve got [those] idiots, absolute clowns.”

Asked about the booing towards Palmer, Wednesday boss Danny Rohl added: “It was more important we showed last week, a clear direction from everybody, my team, from the fans, from the club side and I think the statement showed what we think about such situations.

“We cannot accept this, we will not accept this. If we see something or hear something, I think then we have to take responsibility of course. Everybody is involved and has to do something.”

The Owls scored a late equaliser through Djeidi Gassama to earn a replay with their fellow Championship side.

Victor Torp netted a debut goal for the in-form Sky Blues moments before the break at Hillsborough, finding the top corner from distance.

However, the visitors could not hold on as Gassama found the back of the net via a slight deflection in the 84th minute.

Palmer started the match in dominant fashion and nearly gave the visitors the perfect start just two minutes in, but he could not keep his early effort on target.

After Coventry’s strong start, Wednesday responded and came an Ike Ugbo boot away from scoring a sensational goal. The Owls forward could not get on the end of Barry Bannan’s teasing ball to cap off a wonderful move.

Danish midfielder Torp, who signed for Robins’ side earlier this month, opened the scoring with a beautiful finish after picking the ball up from 35 yards out and unleashing a breathtaking shot that proved too good for Owls’ goalkeeper Pierce Charles.

Wednesday – second-bottom of the Championship – piled the pressure on in search of an equaliser and they found it through Gassama, who managed to squeeze home a low driven finish inside the near post after being fed by Bannan.

There was still time for Charles to produce a brilliant save to prevent Jamie Allen a late winner, also denying them a third victory of the campaign against the hosts.

Sheffield Wednesday head coach Danny Rohl told BBC Radio Sheffield:

“We deserved the draw – we invested a lot in this game as well.

“I think we did well in the second half, always on the front foot, and the first half was OK.

“All in all we can improve in the final third in some situations, we have to find the smart pass to create more chances.

“The replay is not easy as you have one more game but this is football, we have to do it and take the good things from this game.”

Coventry boss Mark Robins told BBC CWR:

“If you can’t win, don’t lose, bring them back to our place and we will have a right go.

“I thought the game was scrappy, I thought the pitch was difficult again – they make it difficult for you by the way they set up.

“It was a tough game for Victor to come into, but he’s got that in his locker – it was a brilliant, brilliant goal, good debut, welcome to Coventry.”