Manchester City have secured their progression to the fifth round of the FA Cup following a testing 2–0 victory over League Two side Salford City at the Etihad Stadium. The match was defined by a historic milestone for Marc Guehi, who registered his first goal for the club since his high-profile January transfer from Crystal Palace. While Pep Guardiola’s men avoided a giant-killing, the same could not be said for Burnley, who suffered a humiliating exit at the hands of third-tier Mansfield Town.
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A Hard-Fought Battle at the Etihad
Despite the vast gulf in resources between the Premier League champions and their fourth-tier visitors—part-owned by Manchester United legends Gary Neville and David Beckham—the contest was far closer than many anticipated. Salford, appearing in the fourth round for the first time in their history, arrived with a point to prove after an 8–0 drubbing by City last season.
The deadlock was broken as early as the sixth minute, though it came through misfortune rather than clinical finishing. A dangerous cross from Rayan Aït-Nouri, intended for Omar Marmoush, was intercepted by Salford’s Alfie Dorrington, who inadvertently turned the ball into his own net.
Guehi’s Milestone Moment
Surprisingly, Manchester City struggled to find their rhythm, failing to register a single shot on target throughout the remainder of the first half. It required the intervention of goalkeeper James Trafford to maintain the lead, as he made crucial saves to deny Ben Woodburn and Kelly N’Mai.
The nerves of the Etihad faithful were finally settled in the 81st minute. Ryan Cherki delivered a precise, low ball across the face of the goal, allowing Marc Guehi to provide a simple tap-in at the back post. This maiden goal for the England international marks a significant personal achievement following his mid-season move to Manchester.
FA Cup Fourth Round: Key Results
| Fixture | Result | Significance |
| Manchester City vs Salford City | 2–0 | Marc Guehi scores first City goal |
| Burnley vs Mansfield Town | 1–2 | Major upset; Burnley out to 3rd-tier side |
| Crystal Palace vs Arsenal | 0–3 | Arsenal maintain dominant form |
Disaster for Burnley
While City navigated their potential banana skin, Burnley’s FA Cup campaign ended in tatters at Turf Moor. Manager Scott Parker opted for a radical tactical gamble, making nine changes to the starting line-up that had beaten Crystal Palace earlier in the week. This experimentation backfired spectacularly as League One side Mansfield Town secured a 2–1 win, reaching the fifth round for the first time since 1975.