Manchester City navigated a tricky FA Cup fourth-round tie against Salford City with a 2-0 victory, advancing to the fifth round of the competition. However, the day was marked by a major shock as Premier League side Burnley were dumped out by League One Mansfield Town in a dramatic 2-1 comeback.
Manchester City Overcome Salford Challenge
Pep Guardiola's Manchester City side, fielding a rotated lineup, secured their place in the next round with a professional performance against League Two opponents Salford City. The match began ominously for Salford when an own goal from Alfie Dorrington handed City the lead after just six minutes, raising fears of a repeat of City's 10-1 thrashing of Exeter City in the previous round.
Despite dominating possession with 80 percent of the ball, City struggled to extend their advantage until late in the game. Erling Haaland was given a rest and watched from the stands as attackers like Phil Foden and Rayan Cherki failed to break down a resilient Salford defence. It was substitute Marc Guehi, making his first appearance since a January move from Crystal Palace, who sealed the win with an 81st-minute goal, his first for the club.
Salford's Creditable Exit
Karl Robinson's Salford City recovered well from the early setback, putting in a disciplined display that limited City's chances. Former Manchester City midfielder Michael Brown praised Salford on BBC Radio 5 Live, noting, "For Salford to get to this stage they have done well. The test was there with this draw, but Robinson will have learned a lot about his players. It was a difficult start, but they will mature from it."
Salford now turn their focus to promotion from League Two, where they currently sit in sixth place, while City progress in the FA Cup with confidence.
Burnley's FA Cup Nightmare
In a stunning upset, Burnley were eliminated from the FA Cup by League One Mansfield Town, who came from behind to win 2-1 at Turf Moor. Scott Parker made nine changes to his starting lineup following a morale-boosting 3-2 win over Crystal Palace, a decision that backfired as Mansfield claimed a famous victory.
Josh Laurent gave Burnley the lead midway through the first half, but the Clarets faded as Rhys Oates and Louis Reed scored to turn the game around. The result triggered boos from home fans and added pressure on Parker, whose side are nine points from safety in the Premier League relegation battle.
Praise for Mansfield's Achievement
Chris Sutton highlighted Mansfield's performance on Final Score, saying, "Amazing story and Nigel Clough, at the helm, has done a brilliant job at Mansfield. To think Mansfield came from behind against Premier League opposition, they kept on peppering Burnley's goal, but the free-kick from Louis Reed deserves to win any cup-tie."
This victory underscores the unpredictable nature of the FA Cup, with lower-league sides often causing upsets against top-flight teams.
Other FA Cup Results
In other Saturday fixtures, Norwich City continued their good form under Philippe Clement with a 3-1 win over Championship rivals West Bromwich Albion. West Ham United avoided an upset by beating Burton Albion 1-0 in the early kick-off, thanks to a stunning extra-time strike from Crysencio Summerville under manager Nuno Espirito Santo.
These results highlight the drama and excitement of the FA Cup, where giant-killings and close contests are a hallmark of the competition.
