Manchester City 10-1 Exeter: Home side set new record for biggest win in their history
Antoine Semenyo signed off with a goal in his last appearance for Bournemouth on Thursday. He then signed into Manchester City with a goal just before the hour as Pep Guardiola’s side battered their League One opponents.
City began scoring as early as minute 12 when youngster Max Alleyne poked the ball over the line, and they were still scoring on minute 91 when Rico Lewis volleyed in his second and City’s 10th, wiping the joy off the 7,000-strong visiting support, who had been jubilating after George Birch netted their consolation only seconds earlier.
James Trafford came in for Gianluigi Donnarumma in goal and the 20-year-old Alleyne was starting his second successive game following injuries to City’s backline, but other than that Guardiola, who was in the stands due to a suspension, started a very strong side, with Erling Haaland, Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Cherki and Rodri all given a run from the outset. Exeter paid the price.
By half time they were four goals down. Lewis made it 5-0 shortly after the break, and Semenyo, also handed a start on his debut, ran onto Cherki’s pass on minute 54 and netted City’s sixth.
This was all standard stuff. Guardiola’s side are famous for knocking the daylight out of lower-tier opposition. But after the hour, Semenyo came off and it was surprising to see Jeremy Doku come on, City swapping strength for strength. Bernardo Silva also came on for Alleyne.
Exeter naturally spent most of the game without the ball but they had some nice moments in the first half, notably when Trafford parried Liam Oakes’ header. But in the second half the goals kept coming. Reijnders, Nico O’Reilly and Ryan McAidoo made it nine to match City’s most goals scored in a competitive match, before Lewis set their new record with his late addition.
