COVENTRY City legend Dion Dublin insists there is not a massive gulf between the Sky Blues and Manchester United as the two teams prepare to face off in the semi-finals of the FA Cup at Wembley this weekend.
Dublin won the Premier League golden boot during his time at Coventry and also played for the Red Devils under Sir Alex Ferguson before joining City for a then club-record £2 million fee in September 1994.
And Dublin does not expect Coventry to fear 12-time FA Cup winners United as the Sky Blues aim to reach the final of the competition for the first time since City famously lifted the trophy in 1987.
Dublin exclusively told the Observer, via BoyleSports who offer the latest EFL Betting: “When you see fixtures like Manchester United versus Coventry, it doesn’t look out of place.
“There’s not a massive gulf between these two, there’s a big gulf in terms of the stature of the two clubs, but when it comes to football teams, the balance is very close.
“United are having a bit of a bad time when it comes to results, I don’t think there will be any fear [from Coventry].
“They’ll feel like they belong, the fans, even when I was there years and years ago, had nothing to cheer about, especially when it comes to the ownership model and had to travel to Northampton and Birmingham.
“It’s about time the club gave back to the fans a little bit and give them something to cheer about and do whatever it takes to get to the Premier League.
“They’re not too far away though, the football Coventry play is very much of Premier League standard, it’s all about consistency now, it’s a massive game.”
The striker enjoyed the most prolific period of his career with the Sky Blues, scoring 61 goals in 145 appearances over a four-and-a-half season spell with the club.
Dublin reminisced about his time with City and praised the club’s supporters for helping to make Highfield Road a fortress.
Dublin added: “Coventry was one of my most rewarding times, the success I had was down to the players around me, it was a tough dressing room but I made some really good friends.
“Playing up front with Darren Huckerby made it really, the goals we scored together, it was brilliant, it was a great time, I loved playing at Highfield Road, it was a bit of a fortress, it was amazing, the fans were really noisy.
“When it comes to winning things, Cov have had experience of being in finals, it’s a Premier League football club, lets get it right.
“You can’t imagine spare seats anywhere when Coventry go to big games because there’s Sky Blue everywhere and they’ll make an absolute racket, it’s going to be an interesting occasion.”
Dublin, who scored 111 Premier League goals during his career, also passed on his advice to current Sky Blues striker Ellis Simms.
Simms has scored 14 goals in his last 13 games, including five in the FA Cup, and Dublin wants the striker to seize the moment should a chance come his way at Wembley.
He said: “I think he’s going to be a problem for United, he loves a challenge, his body language tells me ‘give me the best to play against’.
“I don’t think it’ll be anything Ellis will fear at all, he’ll look forward to it more than anything,
“My mindset would be, don’t let this moment just pass by, you can only enjoy it when you win, I have to win my battle and score goals, when chances are there take the chances.
“That’s what I’d say to Ellis, if you can see the sticks, don’t try and make it the perfect goal, take the half chance.”
Dublin was also full of praise for Sky Blues boss Mark Robins and believes the City manager does not receive the plaudits he deserves after taking Coventry from League Two to the brink of the Premier League in the space of just six seasons.
He said: “There’s always potential for an upset, Mark Robins will have the right things to say before the players leave the dressing room.
“Mark Robins has done an unbelievable job, not just at the football club but with the amount of players he’s made better, he’s a very good coach.
“He’s one of those manager’s who has kind of gone under the radar when it comes to plaudits, he doesn’t want people to start talking about him and how good he is.
“People in the footballing world know how good he is and respect him for that.
“If I was in the Coventry dressing room, I would be giving a rousing team talk to the lads: ‘you’ve got one chance, give everything you’ve got, blood, sweat and tears and see what happens.”
Coventry and United clash at Wembley on Sunday, April 21 with kick-off at 3.30pm at Wembley.
