Manchester City 2-0 Salford City: Marc Guehi scores first goal for club in underwhelming victory
Manchester City are through to the FA Cup fifth round after defeating League Two club Salford City, but the game is best summarised with the fact that Alfie Dorrington’s own goal was the only difference between the two sides until Marc Guehi scored late in the game.
Of course as expected, Salford parked the bus against a side 71 places above them in the English football tier. At the end City had 80 per cent possession to Salford’s 20. It was 87-13 at a point. City struggled, and although Pep Guardiola rested his “exhausted” players, with first team stars Phil Foden, Rayan Cherki, Tijjani Reijnders and Omar Marmoush all starting at the Etihad, perhaps more was expected.
Rayan Ait-Nouri’s cross was deflected in off centre-back Dorrington with only six minutes played but there was very little else. Omar Marmoush’s volley found the net but it was chalked off for offside.
Off the Marc 🫡 pic.twitter.com/gFbNHoxgRV
— Manchester City (@ManCity) February 14, 2026
Salford set up in a 3-5-2 formation and were encamped in their own half for a majority of the game, although Ben Woodburn did test James Trafford shortly before the break and Brandon Cooper’s header was directed wide.
Five minutes past the hour mark Guardiola brought on Guehi, Antoine Semenyo and Nico O’Reilly hoping for a repeat of their trick against Fulham in midweek. Yet it was Salford who were feeling more positive as the game wore on and a chance of an upset began to materialise. Kelly N’Mai unloaded but Trafford interposed his chest to block.
But then after Cherki’s cross was initially repelled Guehi was on hand to double City’s lead on the rebound, Semenyo firing against the post moments later.
