Guéhi's Maiden Goal Sinks Salford, But Guardiola Brands City Display "Boring"

 

By Akins Wandex 

Manchester City progressed to the fifth round of the FA Cup, but their 2-0 victory over League Two Salford City was far from the procession many expected. A first-half own goal from Alfie Dorrington and a late strike from January signing Marc Guéhi were enough to see off their neighbours, but the performance left manager Pep Guardiola distinctly unimpressed .

City, who had thrashed Salford 8-0 in the same competition last season, took just six minutes to breach the visitors' defence. Tijjani Reijnders fed Rayan Aït-Nouri down the left, and his whipped cross was turned into his own net by the unfortunate Dorrington .

However, the anticipated avalanche of goals never came. Guardiola's much-changed side, featuring Omar Marmoush as a makeshift centre-forward in the absence of the injured Erling Haaland, lacked rhythm and incision . Their cause was not helped when Marmoush had a superb volleyed finish wrongly ruled out for offside in the 23rd minute; with no VAR in operation until the fifth round, the goal stood incorrectly chalked off .

As City toiled, Salford grew in belief. Just before half-time, Ben Woodburn forced a sharp save from City goalkeeper James Trafford, tipping a fierce volley over the bar. From the resulting corner, Brandon Cooper somehow headed wide from point-blank range—a gilt-edged chance to level the tie .

The pattern continued after the interval. Salford's Kelly N'Mai tested Trafford again, while City's attacking play remained flat and predictable. Guardiola had seen enough, introducing Antoine Semenyo, Nico O'Reilly, and Marc Guéhi just past the hour mark .

The breakthrough finally arrived in the 81st minute. Rayan Cherki's driven cross was parried by Salford goalkeeper Matthew Young, and Guéhi was on hand to bundle in the rebound from close range for his first goal since joining from Crystal Palace in January . Semenyo nearly added a third late on, striking the inside of the post, but 2-0 it remained.

Pep Guardiola (Manchester City) was brutally honest in his assessment, describing the performance as "boring" and bemoaning his side's lack of ingenuity.

"We didn't read the spaces where they were. That is why the game was boring. The only good news is 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".

Guardiola refused to blame fatigue, adding: It would be nice for me to say mentally we're exhausted, we're tired... But it's our job. The calendar says to play every few days".

Karl Robinson (Salford City) , whose side are sixth in League Two, took immense pride in his team's resilience.

"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" .

This Result Means a place for Manchester City in Monday's fifth-round draw is secured, keeping alive their quest for a fourth consecutive FA Cup final appearance. However, the disjointed display serves as a warning ahead of a crucial Premier League run-in, where they sit second, four points behind Arsenal .

 Despite defeat, Salford city , the League Two outfit—owned by Manchester United's            "Class of '92"—earned plaudits for a disciplined, courageous display that frustrated the Premier League giants for long spells . They return to their promotion push with their reputation enhanced.