Swindon Town 1-4 Manchester City (McKirdy 78′; Silva 14′, Jesus 28′, Gundogan 59′, Palmer 82’)
If Pep Guardiola needed a pick-me-up back home in the north west then he got it thanks to his players who did him and the FA Cup proud in this third-round tie in Swindon.
It is difficult to imagine Manchester City’s hyperactive manager putting his feet up and truly relaxing even following the positive Covid-19 test which prevented him, seven of players and 13 members of staff from heading to the County Ground.
But assuming he did tune into ITV’s coverage he would have been able to sit back and enjoy what was on the whole a fully committed, assured performance as the Premier League pacesetters showed a determination not to take their foot off the gas.
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The only source of concern for Guardiola would have been Jesus’s missed penalty and the only blemish a late goal from Swindon striker Harry McKirdy which was followed up by City’s fourth of the night by the outstanding Cole Palmer.
The scoreline might not have been much to write home about but the discipline and focus displayed by his players against their lower-league opponents would have pleased the obsessive Guardiola.
Taking the helm in Guardiola and right-hand man Juanma Lillico’s absence, his assistant Rodolfo Borrell honoured his pre-match promise by fielding his strongest side possible as City set about winning a trophy won only once during the Spaniard’s reign, in 2019.
Borrell hardly had to lift a finger in anger on the touchline until late on as his team approached their work with the same intensity levels that many top-flight clubs have in the past only reserved for Premier League peers.
City began brightly and Silva should have put them ahead in the fifth minute but, following Joao Cancelo’s pull-back, but lacked his usual control and his first-time shot sped over Lewis Ward’s crossbar.
Man City player ratings
- Steffen 6
- Walker 7
- Dias 7
- Ake 7 (Mbete 86)
- Cancelo 7
- Gundogan 7 (Lavia 83)
- Rodrigo 6
- De Bruyne 7 (McAtee 65, 6)
- Palmer 8
- Silva 6
- Jesus 6
Swindon had their moments as well, Ellis Iandolo’s devilish cross just evading skipper Dion Conroy and that at least gave the locals reason to be optimistic.
Hopes of an upset receded as their five-man defence was undone by the wizardry of Palmer who underlined City’s strength in depth by bamboozling his markers before delivering a low cross was slotted in from close range by Silva in the 14th minute.
Only the most incurable Cup romantic would have still bet on an shock as City strengthened their grip on the tie in the 28th minute when Kevin de Bruyne expertly teed up Jesus and he calmly finished with a low shot.
Back came Swindon and striker McKirdy must have fancied his chances of bloodying City noses when Zack Steffen’s clearance came his way but the goalkeeper recovered in time to gather his attempted chip.
City’s determination not to give Swindon anything to shout about was summed up by the way four defenders raced back to deny McKirdy as he broke forward.
Thanks to Swindon manager Ben Garner’s penchant for passing football, this proved to be a good workout for City as they eased to a 12th successive win in domestic football.
The tie was effectively done and dusted when Gundogan effortlessly beat Ward with a 25-yard free-kick in the 59th minute.
Humiliation briefly looked on the cards when Jesus stepped up to take a penalty three minutes later but Ward saved well low to his right.
That misstep prompted the loudest cheer of the night so far and stirred Swindon who pulled a goal back through McKirdy who rolled the ball beyond Steffen in the 78th minute following good work by Jonny Williams.
But that jolt got City going again and fittingly the impressive Palmer, the best player on display, had the final say with a powerful finish to wrap up a good shift for City and the 19-year-old in particular. Who said you win nothing with kids.
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/3n5GAuU
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