Pep Guardiola spoke of the slog of the schedule and Manchester City went out and performed as if dog-tired, yet with only Phil Foden and Rayan Aït-Nouri having started Wednesday’s win against Fulham, this was no excuse.
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 his first goal for his new club.
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.
Privately, Guardiola will not be overjoyed at his team not “being ourselves”, as he likes to say, but will be delighted as City are through and this born winner adores being in contention for any trophy.
Six minutes were enough for Aït-Nouri to force Dorrington to turn into his net. Tijjani Reijnders fed the overlapping left-back along his flank and a whipped-in cross was slipped past Matthew Young by the on-loan Tottenham centre-back, Salford’s goalkeeper conceding even earlier than when Jérémy Doku beat him after eight minutes last year.
The XI Guardiola fielded was completely different from the one 13 months ago. It featured Omar Marmoush at centre-forward, as Erling Haaland was absent through the injury sustained in the Fulham win, and John Stones was captain, in a first appearance since early December after a thigh problem.
Salford are sixth in League Two despite losing two of their last three league games, and in Karl Robinson had a manager bolstered by signing a new deal on Friday. His 3-5-2 had 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 inside the area 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 could be pleased at how becalmed City were – the closest they came to a second by half-time was Marmoush’s 23rd-minute finish that was chalked off for offside.
Towards the end of the first half Salford nearly broke their drought against a top–flight club when Ben Woodburn crossed from the left, ran into the area, and shot when the ball bounced back to him, Trafford tipping over.
Then at close range, from a corner, Brandon Cooper spurned a platinum-plated chance to head an equaliser, missing badly at the far post.
Robinson surely sent his men out for the second half with encouragement that a shock could be forced. City, though, 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 the visiting manager fancied Salford’s chances.
It is rare to see Guardiola’s side so tame, so a change was in the offing, especially after N’Mai was left free to take a shot on the right at an angle, requiring Trafford’s large frame to stop it.
City’s manager called for the cavalry. Off went Foden, Stones and Aït-Nouri, for Antoine Semenyo, Guéhi and Nico O’Reilly. Robinson took off 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.
