Marc Guéhi celebrated his inaugural goal for Manchester City by securing a 2-0 FA Cup triumph over Salford City, yet the match unfolded as a lackluster affair for the Premier League giants. Pep Guardiola had previously voiced concerns about the grueling schedule, and his team's performance mirrored that fatigue, despite only Phil Foden and Rayan Aït-Nouri having started in the midweek victory against Fulham.
A Subdued Display from the Champions
Manchester City appeared sluggish and uninspired throughout the encounter, narrowly avoiding extra time until Guéhi's decisive intervention in the 80th minute. The defender capitalized from close range, doubling the lead after Alfie Dorrington's own goal had initially hinted at a potential goal fest reminiscent of last season's 8-0 Cup rout.
Instead, Salford City's disciplined defensive structure effectively neutralized their esteemed opponents. Guardiola, while privately dissatisfied with his team's failure to embody their characteristic style, will undoubtedly appreciate progressing in the competition, as the relentless winner cherishes contention for every available trophy.
Early Promise Fades Quickly
The match began promisingly for City when Aït-Nouri's sixth-minute cross forced Dorrington into an own goal. Tijjani Reijnders supplied the overlapping left-back, whose delivery was inadvertently turned into the net by the on-loan Tottenham defender, with Salford goalkeeper Matthew Young beaten even earlier than in last year's fixture.
Guardiola fielded an entirely different lineup from thirteen months prior, featuring Omar Marmoush as center-forward in Erling Haaland's absence due to injury, and John Stones making his first appearance since early December as captain after recovering from a thigh issue.
Salford's Resilient Challenge
Salford City, positioned sixth in League Two despite recent league setbacks, were managed by Karl Robinson, who had just signed a contract extension. His tactical setup employed a 3-5-2 formation, with Ryan Graydon partnering Kelly N'Mai in attack, the latter deployed higher to exploit his pace against City's defense.
Graydon nearly capitalized on this strategy when he found Josh Austerfield in a promising position, but the midfielder misfired his shot and subsequently sustained an injury during a challenge with Max Alleyne, forcing his substitution. Salford's best opportunities emerged before halftime, with Ben Woodburn forcing a save from James Trafford and Brandon Cooper squandering a golden chance from a corner.
Guardiola's Tactical Adjustments
After the break, City showed brief signs of rejuvenation, but Salford remained dangerous, with N'Mai testing Trafford from an angle. Guardiola responded by introducing substitutes Antoine Semenyo, Marc Guéhi, and Nico O'Reilly, while Robinson countered with Daniel Udoh and Ossama Ashley.
The managerial changes proved decisive when Guéhi bundled the ball home to alleviate mounting tension, though the performance fell far short of the exhilarating standards typically associated with Guardiola's tenure. Manchester City advance in the FA Cup, but questions linger about their overall display against determined lower-league opposition.
