Respect and tradition are the reasons Pep Guardiola offered up for loving the FA Cup, the challenges of going to lower league grounds and enduring all of what that entails.
When explaining this, the Manchester City manager did his finest ‘who are ya’ with an amusing grunt that had a guttural quality to it, depicting opposing supporters greeting their team coaches when rolling into the likes of Swindon Town, Wigan Athletic, Cheltenham Town and Newport County over the years.
There was an authenticity to him describing affection for a competition that, in his own words, other countries would have wholly devalued or forgotten about entirely a long time ago. ‘I love the UK for that,’ he said.
He will not have enjoyed this. None of the banter with rival fans outside because City were at home. There was no fun to be had on a forgettable afternoon that saw Marc Guehi, Rodri and Nico O’Reilly sent for in order to make sure Salford City didn’t etch their names into history books.
City possessed 80 per cent of the ball and needed Guehi’s tap into an empty net with nine minutes to finish off League Two Salford, who host Newport on Tuesday. An Alfie Dorrington own goal in the opening moments must have had Karl Robinson fearing a repeat of last season’s 8-0 defeat here but his side were superb, going in at half time having created the better chances.
A free Brandon Cooper header wide from four yards. Ben Woodburn – once a Liverpool prodigy – forcing James Trafford into a stunning save. Josh Austerfield kicking thin air when clean through.
Manchester City edged into the FA Cup fifth round with a 2-0 win over Salford – but it was hardly light work
Marc Guehi bagged his first Man City goal late on after Alfie Dorrington’s early own goal
Pep Guardiola, usually such a fan of the FA Cup, lamented a ‘boring’ afternoon for his side
This was not the romance that Guardiola talks about, that focused on the tight stadiums and not so carpeted pitches, when City have to prove they really want it. This was in front of an expectant crowd waiting to be entertained, 4,000 Salford supporters instead tucked up in the Gods, out of the way.
Salford’s actually Guardiola’s hometown club, with his apartment over their side of the River Irwell. When he makes the short journey to the City training ground on Wednesday after three days off, the Catalan expects his team fully firing for the run-in.
‘The game was boring,’ he said. ‘We didn’t read the spaces where they were. The only good news is that we go through.
‘It would be nice to say mentally we’re exhausted and it has been a tough three weeks but it is our job, we have to do what we have to do. Nine players who started were fresh. Everything was flat, slow, it was not good.’
Robinson replied to that by saying it had to be dull if Salford were able to stay in it and he is absolutely right, adding that they were the better team until Guardiola brought on his substitutes.
‘What a fantastic defensive performance against one of the best teams in Europe,’ Robinson said. ‘We can use this as a benchmark to move forward. The way we have lost is testament to the players. I’m immensely proud.’
Paul Scholes was at the Etihad Stadium in the directors’ box, sharing a joke with Khaldoon Al Mubarak at the break, but there was no Gary Neville – away skiing, as he was last year. He missed Trafford having to stand tall to deny the bright Kelly N’Mai, who was subject of interest from higher up the pyramid in January.
He missed a crunching Zach Awe tackle on Tijjani Reijnders and how Ryan Graydon was only just denied a clear volley at goal by some alert O’Reilly defending. Until the final few minutes, Salford were excellent: compact with an ability to break at pace.
City will argue that Omar Marmoush’s thunderous effort midway through the first half, ruled out for offside, should have stood – and would have done with VAR. And they can point to the returning John Stones being felled in the box, although that was less clear-cut.
Interestingly, Guardiola admitted that he genuinely didn’t know how to feel about a game without interference from Stockley Park. ‘Sometimes I think before was better, sometimes VAR makes it fairer,’ he said.
Any other points of interest were much harder to come by.
