Marc Guéhi celebrated scoring his inaugural goal for Manchester City, a close-range effort in the 80th minute that doubled the lead to 2-0 against Salford in a lacklustre FA Cup encounter. The victory, while securing progression, highlighted a fatigued and underwhelming display from Pep Guardiola's squad, who failed to replicate their usual dominant style.
Guardiola's Rotated Side Struggles Against Stubborn Salford
Pep Guardiola had previously lamented the gruelling schedule, and Manchester City's performance against Salford reflected a team seemingly dog-tired, despite only Phil Foden and Rayan Aït-Nouri starting from the midweek win over Fulham. City appeared abject and operated at half-pace, risking extra time until Guéhi's decisive intervention.
An own goal by Alfie Dorrington early on had hinted at a potential avalanche of goals, reminiscent of last season's 8-0 Cup triumph, but Salford's compact defensive and midfield lines effectively stifled their aristocratic hosts. Privately, Guardiola may be displeased with his team's failure to be "ourselves," yet he will undoubtedly relish remaining in contention for another trophy.
First-Half Frustrations and Missed Opportunities
Within six minutes, Aït-Nouri's overlapping run forced Dorrington to turn the ball into his own net, with Tijjani Reijnders providing the assist from the flank. Guardiola fielded a completely different lineup from the match thirteen months prior, featuring Omar Marmoush as centre-forward in Erling Haaland's absence and John Stones as captain, marking his first appearance since early December after a thigh injury.
Salford, positioned sixth in League Two, entered with Karl Robinson freshly bolstered by a new contract. Their 3-5-2 formation saw Ryan Graydon paired with Kelly N'Mai in attack, aiming to exploit City with pace. Graydon troubled the defence, setting up Josh Austerfield for a chance that was miskicked, leading to Austerfield's injury and substitution for Ryan McAidoo.
City's penalty appeals were ignored after Austerfield pulled Stones down, and Salford nearly equalised before half-time. Ben Woodburn's cross and shot forced James Trafford into a save, while Brandon Cooper missed a golden opportunity from a corner, heading wide at the far post.
Second-Half Substitutions Prove Decisive
Robinson encouraged his team at halftime, sensing a potential shock, but City started the second period with more vigour. Rayan Cherki's run set up McAidoo for a shot that Matthew Young tipped away, yet no goals materialised. A Robinson volley aimed at Rosaire Longelo indicated Salford's growing confidence.
As City remained tame, Guardiola made strategic changes, substituting Foden, Stones, and Aït-Nouri for Antoine Semenyo, Guéhi, and Nico O'Reilly. Robinson responded by bringing on Daniel Udoh and Ossama Ashley for N'Mai and Jorge Grant. Guardiola's moves proved superior when Guéhi bundled in the second goal, calming nerves but showcasing a performance far from the vintage Guardiola era.
Ultimately, Manchester City advanced in the FA Cup, but the match served as a reminder of the challenges posed by a packed schedule and determined lower-league opposition.
