Man City Player Ratings vs. Salford: Lifeless Cityzens Narrowly Avoid Embarrassment

Etihad Stadium, Manchester — Manchester City advanced to the fifth round of the FA Cup on Saturday, yet the scoreboard’s 2–0 margin flattered a side that laboured for 80 minutes against League Two visitors Salford City. An early own goal by Spurs loanee Alfie Dorrington and a late first-time strike from substitute Marc Guéhi ultimately sealed progression, but the contest felt anything but routine for Pep Guardiola’s much-changed lineup.

City entered the tie on the back of a 10-1 demolition of Exeter City and last season’s 8-0 rout of Salford, raising expectations of another goal-glut. Those hopes were checked inside six minutes when Dorrington inadvertently diverted Rayan Aït-Nouri’s low cross past James Trafford, yet the anticipated onslaught never materialised. Instead, Salford, organised and fearless, fashioned the clearer chances and finished the first 45 minutes with a superior expected-goals tally of 0.25 to City’s paltry 0.13. The hosts failed to register a single shot on target before the interval, a damning statistic for a side brimming with internationals.

Without Erling Haaland, sidelined by a minor injury, City lacked a reference point up front. Omar Marmoush, Phil Foden and Rayan Cherki rotated through the central channel but none could replicate the Norwegian’s instinctive movement. Marmoush thought he had lit up the tie with a spectacular drive, only for the flag to curtail celebrations. Penalty appeals when John Stones was hauled down at a corner were similarly waved away, summing up a frustrating half.

Guardiola’s response came shortly after the hour: a triple switch that introduced Antoine Semenyo, Marc Guéhi and academy product Nico O’Reilly. The injection of urgency was overdue. Semenyo clipped the frame of the goal, while Guéhi, arriving unmarked at the far post, converted Cherki’s deflected cross to settle nerves with ten minutes remaining.

The manager will take little comfort from the performance. Trafford, handed a rare start, was City’s busiest performer, producing a string of smart saves to preserve the lead. At the other end, Cherki’s darting runs and inventive passing earned him the side’s highest rating, yet too many senior figures misfired. Foden’s touch was heavy, Reijnders drifted out of contention, and González’s 102 passes rarely travelled beyond ten yards, epitomising a cautious, sideways approach that played into Salford’s hands.

City march on, but the post-match huddle felt more like a sigh of relief than a celebration. Guardiola knows standards must rise; the FA Cup has offered a reminder that even the Premier League’s superpowers cannot coast through the rounds.

Player Ratings James Trafford – 8.1 Max Alleyne – 6.6 Abdukodir Khusanov – 7.5 John Stones – 7.7 Rayan Aït-Nouri – 7.3 Rico Lewis – 7.6 Nico González – 7.3 Tijjani Reijnders – 7.2 Phil Foden – 6.6 Omar Marmoush – 6.9 Rayan Cherki – 8.2 Subs: Ryan McAidoo – 6.9; Antoine Semenyo – 6.6; Marc Guéhi – 7.5; Nico O’Reilly – 6.9; Rodri – 6.4

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