Manchester City 2 (Alfie Dorrington OG 6′, Marc Guehi 81′)
Salford City 0
Manchester City have booked theri place in the fifth-round of the FA Cup with a 2-nil win over Salford City in their fourth-round FA Cup tie at the Etihad Stadium today. Pep Guardiola’s side were nowhere near their best, but they did what they had to do to beat a determined and resolute Salford City outfit.
Ahead of kick-off, Pep Guardiola made nine changes to the starting lineup that beat Fulham. Erling Haaland and Bernardo Silva weren’t included in Manchester City’s matchday squad for today’s match. Bernardo Silva was rested and Erling Haaland also was given a rest after suffering from discomfort during City’s win over Fulham.
First half.
It took Manchester City only six minutes to take the lead against Salford City today. Pep Guardiola’s side had begun the game brightly in possession. Rayan Ait-Nouri made a clever overlapping run on the left, and the Algerian international played a quality cross into the Salford City penalty area. Ait-Nouri’s cross was deflected into his own net by Salford City defender Alfie Dorrington, and Pep Guardiola’s side were seemingly on their way.
As the game entered the 20th minute, Salford City had shown a dogged determination to stay in the FA Cup tie. Karl Robinson’s side sat deep defensively in a bid to frustrate Pep Guardiola’s side. Their tactic had worked in the game’s early stages. Max Alleyne had to be taken off after 21 minutes due to injury. The young defender got hurt while attempting to block a shot from Salford City player Josh Austerfield. Alleyne was replaced by Ryan McAidoo.
As the game ticked into the 33rd minute, Manchester City had several near moments. Omar Marmoush had a stunning volley chalked off for offside in the 22nd minute. Although it did seem that the call was touch and go as to whether or not Marmoush was offside, Phil Foden almost played in Marmoush in the 30th minute, but Salford City keeper Matthew Young reacted smartly to snuff out the danger. Rayan Cherki set Marmoush free on the left wing a minute later, but his cross was cut out with Phil Foden unmarked at the back post.
James Trafford makes a stunning save to deny Salford City and equalizer.
After the first real spell of Salford City’s attacking pressure of the match, James Trafford made a stunning save to preserve his team’s lead. Ryan Graydon played a ball to the back post, and Ben Woodburn hit a shot that looked destined for the top left corner. James Trafford produced an acrobatic save to deny Salford City an equalizer. Strangely, Woodburn’s shot was the first shot on target of the match. Despite Manchester City’s dominance of possession and territory, they weren’t creating any significant chances.
Brandon Cooper would make a mess of a free header from a corner on the stroke of halftime, denying Salford City another shot on target. Cooper should have done a lot better with the chance on offer. Cooper’s missed header would be the final moment of the first half. Although Manchester City had the lead and dominated possession, Pep Guardiola would not have been happy with his team’s first half display. City were too slow in possession, and there needed to be a lift in intensity from Pep Guardiola’s side in the second half.
Second half.
There looked to be more intent in Manchester City’s play to begin the second half. Ryan McAidoo saw a shot saved by Salford City keeper Matthew Young in the 50th minute. McAidoo was picked out in space on the right wing by Rayan Cherki. The young winger attempted to curl an effort into the top near corner, but Young reacted quickly to tip Ryan McAidoo’s deflected strike behind.
Despite Manchester City’s bright early start to the second half, Salford City began to press for an equalizer between the 50th and 60th minutes. Two crucial pieces of defending from Rico Lewis and John Stones denied Salford City an opportunity to equalize. James Trafford made another strong save at his near post to deny Kelly N’Mai in the 59th minute. N’Mai got himself into a good position to shoot after a spell of Salford City pressure. The more the game continued in the fashion it was being played, if Salford City scored an equalizer it wouldn’t come as a major surprise.
After Salford City kept pushing to find an equalizer, Manchester City should have taken a 2-nil lead in the 77th minute. Rayan Cherki played a corner short to Omar Marmoush. Marmoush beat a Salford City defender with ease before surging into the penalty area. The Egyptian international played a quality ball across the six-yard box that Nico O’Reilly met at the near post. But O’Reilly couldn’t sort his feet out, and the ball ricocheted away and his chance was gone. Antoine Semenyo smashed a left-footed strike into the side netting on the follow-up.
Manchester City take a 2-nil lead through Marc Guehi.
It would take until the 81st minute for Manchester City to double their lead. Antoine Semenyo won a free kick on the left wing. The free kick was taken short which allowed Rayan Cherki time and space to deliver a cross from the left. Cherki’s cross was parried away by Salford City keeper Matthew Young, but Young’s save fell into the path of Marc Guehi. Guehi had a simple task of tapping into an empty net. Guehi’s goal was much-needed by City and was also his first goal for the club.
Antoine Semenyo would strike the post in the 85th minute. Rayan Cherki played Semenyo in behind the Salford defence with a quality through ball. Semenyo beat Matthew Young with a neat left-footed finish, but his shot hit the post and stayed out.
City player ratings
James Trafford-8/10: Made two crucial saves to deny Salford City an equalizer. Manchester City’s man-of-the-match in my opinion.
Abdukodir Khusanov-6.5/10: A solid, but not spectacular performance from Khusanov.
John Stones-6/10: Made one crucial defensive intervention but the bigger positive was that Stones got through 65 minutes on the pitch unscathed.
Max Alleyne-6/10: Started at right-back and had begun the game brightly before injury hit.
Rayan Ait-Nouri-7/10: The Algerian international set up City’s opening goal. He was bright again before being taken off.
Nico-7/10: I thought Nico was arguably Manchester City’s best outfield player while he was on the pitch. He was good in possession and and showed that he is in good touch after his injury layoff.
Rico Lewis-6/10: A quiet game in possession from Lewis. Having said that, he did make one crucial defensive intervention in the second half.
Tijjani Reijnders-5/10: Not Reijnders best game. Was pushed aside by the Salford City players too easily and couldn’t influence the game as he’d have liked.
Phil Foden-5.5/10: Some nice touches at times, but like many of his teammates he didn’t do enough.
Rayan Cherki-6/10: It was Cherki’s cross that set up City’s second goal of the afternoon. I thought Cherki tried hard but wasn’t at his dazzling best.
Omar Marmoush-5/10: He was denied a goal by a tight offside call. Outside of that, I thought Marmoush was nowhere near his best.
Substitutes
Ryan McAidoo-6/10: He came in earlier than expected and never stopped trying.
Antoine Semenyo-6.5/10: Manchester City had a more dangerous threat in the final third once Semenyo came on.
Nico O’Reilly-6/10: Got into some good positions after coming on as a substitute.
Marc Guehi-7/10: Guehi scored his first goal for Manchester City and brought a sense of calm to his team’s play when it was needed.
Rodri-7/10: It was no surprise that City were at their best after Rodri came on.