Wolves were dumped out of the FA Cup on Saturday by Coventry City in what was one of the toughest days for the club this season – and Mario Lemina has fronted up in a brilliant show of leadership.
Wanderers’ hopes of winning the FA Cup for a fifth time are over, after their Championship opponents came from behind to win right at the death at Molineux.
Ellis Simms gave Coventry a controversial lead, with VAR deeming him not to have used his arm to score.
After a string of great saves from the brilliant Jose Sa, Wolves found a late equaliser through Rayan Ait-Nouri, with Hugo Bueno then scoring what looked to be a winner.
But Coventry equalised through Simms, before Hagi Wright scored right at the end to break Wolves hearts.
It is a bitterly disappointing result, which prompted Mario Lemina to send a long message on social media…
Mario Lemina reacts as Wolves go out of FA Cup against Coventry
Supporters will be feeling this one for quite a while.
It was a golden chance for Wolves to get to Wembley and to a first semi-final in five years. But in the end, Wolves just weren’t good enough.
Obviously, Gary O’Neil was missing several key players and perhaps the result would have been different had the likes of Hwang Hee-chan, Matheus Cunha, Pedro Neto and Craig Dawson all played.
But Coventry were the better side, as admitted by O’Neil after the game, and Wolves will now have to dust themselves down and go again in the Premier League.
The Wolves players have been very quiet on social media since yesterday’s game, which is to be expected.
But midfield warrior Lemina did front up, writing on his Instagram Story: “Sad. Hard one for each person who loves this club. The passion and desire that you gave to us is incredible as always. We gave everything we had, but not the way we wanted. Me the first. Sometimes it’s like this. The only thing we can do now is stick together as we used to and think about what is upcoming for us. Good rest @Wolves Thank you.”
A captain without the armband
Aside from Leon Chiwome, who posted about the fact he made his debut for Wolves yesterday, Lemina is the only player to have posted about yesterday’s game.
It is very often the case that players stay quiet on social media after a defeat.
But sometimes it can be good to still communicate, and Lemina’s show of leadership here is really good.
Max Kilman may wear the armband at Molineux and is a good captain, but Lemina is also a top leader and you would imagine he was also vocal in the dressing room yesterday after the defeat, as well as on social media.