Man City vs Salford City — Guehi nets first Man City goal in 2-0 FA Cup win
Manchester City overcame a stubborn Salford City side to book a place in the FA Cup fifth-round draw, edging a nervy tie 2-0. An early own goal and a late Marc Guehi finish were enough for a much-changed City team that had to withstand pressure and an enforced defensive reshuffle.
Early promise, midgame jitters
City looked set for an easy evening when Alfie Dorrington diverted a cross into his own net inside six minutes to hand the hosts a very early lead. That bright start, however, did not translate into control. City made nine changes to their starting XI and struggled to build consistent momentum as Salford regrouped behind the ball.
Defensive disruption arrived in the 22nd minute when Max Alleyne limped off injured, forcing another change and prompting a tactical tweak from the home side. Salford grew in confidence and twice went close before the break: Ben Woodburn tested goalkeeper James Trafford with a low drive that Trafford did well to keep out, and Brandon Cooper headed wide from a corner at the end of the first half.
Salford fightback and second-half chances
The League Two visitors remained dangerous after the interval. Kelly N'Mai's low effort struck Trafford in the chest as Salford probed for an equaliser, while clever movement and quick transitions repeatedly unsettled City's rotated backline. At several moments it appeared Salford might force extra time, such was their appetite for the upset.
City's forwards struggled to find rhythm without their usual first-choice striker, and chances were limited until fresh legs were introduced. The hosts had a spell of possession and probing play but found Salford well organised and difficult to break down.
Substitutions settle the tie — Guehi makes it safe
Seeking control, the manager turned to the bench and brought on Antoine Semenyo, Marc Guehi and Nico O'Reilly to inject pace and physicality. The move paid off when Guehi, the centre-back who only recently became eligible to play in the competition after a rules refresh, tapped home from close range after the Salford goalkeeper could only parry a cross into his path. The finish, in the 80th minute, was Guehi's first for his new side and effectively put the tie beyond doubt.
Guehi's appearance carried added narrative: he had featured for another club earlier in the competition under the previous season's arrangements and might have been cup-tied had the regulations not changed. The current wording permits a player to turn out for one other club in the competition proper, though not for two different teams in the same round; Guehi was one of the handful of players to benefit from that adjustment.
Despite the ultimately comfortable scoreline, the win felt fashioned more by stubbornness than by fluency. The manager described the performance as uninspired and criticised the side for failing to find the necessary movement and speed in possession until after the second goal. Even so, progression in the cup remains the priority and City extended their remarkable run in FA Cup home ties, keeping alive a sequence that dates back more than a decade.
Salford can take credit for a disciplined display and for testing a top-flight rotation side on a chilly cup night. For City, the victory triggers a Wednesday wait for the fifth-round draw and a reminder that squad rotation will require sharper execution if the club is to juggle domestic cups alongside heavy schedule demands.
