Tommy Doyle has the chance to reach the FA Cup semi-final for a second successive season after his winning goal for Sheffield United 12 months ago but knows the task Wolves have ahead of themselves against Coventry City on Saturday.
The midfielder has played an important role in helping the Old Gold to the quarter-final stage of the historic competition, with his equalising goal in the initial third round tie at Brentford after the team had gone a man and a goal down early keeping Wolves in the competition.
But having missed out on the chance to play at Wembley last season after the Blades were put up against his parent club Manchester City, the 22-year-old is dreaming of getting the chance in gold and black – but they will need to get past a difficult game against the Sky Blues first.
On facing Coventry this weekend
“We’ve got another difficult game, but we’re ready, we’ll see what happens and it’s really exciting. I’ve got experience of playing in quarter-finals, but this weekend is just a football match.
“Whether you’ve played in a quarter-final before or not, all of us have played in important football matches before, so we understand what it’s all about and what the reward is.
“We know that we’re obviously favourites, but the lads understand that it’s going to be a difficult game. It’s not always easy to face lower league clubs because they have a different resilience to Premier League sides, so it will be difficult, but if we perform, then hopefully we can win it.”
On being a key part of Wolves’ run to the quarters
“My goal in the initial tie against Brentford was important, of course, but the performance from all of the boys was important as well. We went down to 10 men which was difficult, but it showed the fight and the resilience we have as a team.
“There were a lot of important things that came from that game and I know the goal kept us in the tie, but then we managed to get them back to our place and we won. Every little bit helps, so I was just happy that I contributed.
“Then beating West Brom and Brighton, it’s not been an easy route to the quarter-finals and I didn’t expect it to be easy.”
On playing in the FA Cup
“The FA Cup was a really important competition when I was growing up and something you’d always watch when you were a kid. It was probably one of my first memories of football, watching the FA Cup, so it’s a special competition, especially for the lads in England.
“The FA Cup is definitely a competition I wanted to win when I was growing up, and when you’re a player, every competition is important, and you want to win every game.
“But the FA Cup is obviously very special, so hopefully we can perform well on Saturday and be rewarded with the ultimate prize of going to Wembley.”
A thing of beauty.
— Wolves (@Wolves) January 5, 2024
😍💥 pic.twitter.com/eJkEHylsEi
On aiming for another semi-final
“This weekend is another game that I’m really excited about and looking forward to, but I managed to get to the semi-final last season with Sheffield United and obviously it was a really good run.
“You always want to perform for every club, but I’m at the new chapter at the moment and I want to do the same thing here.
“I’ve got another opportunity to play in a massive game at the weekend, and with the prize of getting to Wembley, it’s going to be a very special game.”
