5 hours ago
8
Pep Guardiola spoke of the slog of the schedule and Manchester City performed as if dog-tired when knocking out Salford in a tie the manager pithily described as “boring”.
City were abject and half-paced and in danger of being forced into extra time, at least, until Marc Guéhi’s 80th-minute close-range strike doubled the lead. It was the defender’s first goal for the club he joined last month.
Alfie Dorrington’s own goal had suggested a City avalanche that might emulate last season’s 8-0 Cup win here but it did not happen. Instead, Salford’s packed back and middle lines stifled their aristocratic hosts.
Afterwards, Guardiola was unhappy at the display but delighted as City are through: this born winner adores being in contention for any trophy. The manager said: “One of our players had to put the ball on the opposite side [to gain space] and it happened only after 2-0. That is why it was boring. We didn’t read the spaces where we were. We spent too much time making the process. The only good news that we go through. That’s all. I know the players want it, it is just we didn’t read what we should do. Maybe I didn’t convey what we should do to be more fluid.”
Six minutes were enough for Rayan Aït-Nouri to force Dorrington to turn into his net. Tijjani Reijnders fed the left-back along his flank and a whipped-in cross was slipped past Matthew Young by the on-loan Tottenham centre-back.
The XI Guardiola fielded was completely different from the match 13 months ago. It featured Omar Marmoush at centre-forward, as Erling Haaland was absent after injury in the Fulham win, with John Stones the captain, in his first appearance since early December after a thigh problem.
Salford are sixth in League Two, but had lost two of their last three league games, and in Karl Robinson were led by a manager bolstered by signing a new deal on Friday. His 3-5-2 featured Ryan Graydon partnered in attack by Kelly N’Mai, the midfielder pushed forward as Robinson hoped the 21-year-old’s pace would trouble City.
Graydon did precisely this when roving left in front of the home D and passing to Josh Austerfield: the midfielder had sight of James Trafford’s posts but, when unloading, miskicked and, in going to challenge Max Alleyne, was hurt and forced off.
This brought Ryan McAidoo on to play along the right, Rico Lewis occupying Alleyne’s right-back berth, and Austerfield’s next act was to pull Stones down at a corner, but the referee, Matthew Donohue, was not interested in City’s penalty claims.
Robinson was pleased at how becalmed City were – the closest they came to a second by half-time was Marmoush’s 23rd-minute finish chalked off for offside. Towards the end of the opening period Salford nearly broke their drought against a top–flight opponent when Ben Woodburn shot, Trafford tipping over.
Then at close range, from a corner, Brandon Cooper spurned a platinum-plated chance to head the equaliser, missing badly at the far post. “He had to score,” said Robinson.
The Liverpudlian sent his men out for the second half with encouragement that a shock could be forced. City came out invigorated – initially. The quiet Rayan Cherki galloped forward and fed McAidoo, the youngster’s shot tingled Young’s fingers, and two corners followed. Yet no goals did and a Robinson volley aimed at Rosaire Longelo for not threading the ball towards City’s goal indicated he fancied Salford’s chances.
It is rare to see Guardiola’s side so tame so a change was inevitable, especially after N’Mai was left free to shoot, on the right at an angle, but Trafford put his large frame in the way.
City’s manager called for the cavalry. Off went Phil Foden, Stones and Aït-Nouri, for Antoine Semenyo, Guéhi and Nico O’Reilly. Then, Robinson removed N’Mai and Jorge Grant for Daniel Udoh and Ossama Ashley. Guardiola’s substitutions proved the better when Guéhi bundled in. It calmed nerves but this was far from vintage Guardiola-era City.
Robinson said: “I feel an immense amount of pride. I said before that if this football club wants to grow, we have to go through difficult moments. Until the changes they made in the 75th minute, I don’t recall chance after chance. But they’re always going to have chances when you’re geniuses, because that’s what they are.”
