Bristol City 0-3 Manchester City: Phil Foden’s resurgence continues

This is a competition that is threatening to open up for Manchester City. There are not many big hitters left. 

Pep Guardiola has only collected one FA Cup winners’ medal and they should place some form of importance in rectifying that over the coming months.

Semi-finals are usually their undoing, losing at that stage in each of the last three seasons. By that time of a campaign, the Champions League’s knockouts are in full swing.

And, believe it or not, City’s squad then always feels stretched. Guardiola likes to keep the size small, with 17 senior outfield players at his disposal this time, and it will be interesting to see whether they can cope on three fronts.

Before all that, they managed to squeeze beyond Bristol City in what was not an easy tie, alive until Phil Foden’s shot deflected in off Zak Vyner with 16 minutes left. 

A lively night, Nigel Pearson’s side wanting to open the game up in a way Guardiola is unaccustomed.

Kalvin Phillips came through only his second start since signing last summer with little problem, striking the post from 20 yards within a couple of minutes.

Bristol City have always manufactured the arrival of top-flight opposition into absorbing occasions on nights like these, the free scarves dangled over every seat later madly twirled in the air to a din. 

Both Manchester clubs were here in 2018 for League Cup fixtures: one losing in memorable fashion and the other taken all the way over a two-legged semi-final, eventually settled beyond doubt by Kevin De Bruyne.

The crowd played a part then and they did again last night, this often uncomfortable for the champions of the land as Rico Lewis tangled with Mark Sykes in the box – no VAR in operation – or when the energetic Alex Scott rode challenges as he drove towards Stefan Ortega’s goal.

There is considerable disdain for the riches that their visitors represent, with a local Bristol pub decorated in disparaging messages following the news of more than 100 charges for alleged breaches of financial rules by the Premier League the other week. 

Those sentiments continued, with the travelling fans told, ‘you know what you are,’ alongside some rather more choice language.

That bit of bite translated to the players, who set about getting into faces early, although were behind within seven minutes. 

From a raking pass to Riyad Mahrez, it took five touches for Phil Foden to slam home first time at the back post. Mahrez and De Bruyne exchanged passes telepathically to engineer the perfect chance for Foden to score in consecutive matches for the first time since October.

Ortega was forced off at the break after appearing to suffer a hand injury earlier in the evening, with Ederson called upon and straight into the action when unsure on dealing with a loose ball. 

Things like that lift a crowd even more.

Scott proved a handful, while Andreas Weimann was thrown on to offer Pearson’s team additional impetus going forward. 

Tomas Kalas had diverted a Mahrez volley off the line, which was brought about by centre half Zak Vyner being a little too adventurous, while Ruben Dias went close.

Bell was unfortunate not to convert a cross from the right before Vyner diverted into his own net. 

De Bruyne capped off a sparkling night by allowing a Jack Grealish pass to run across his body and bend beyond O’Leary from 25 yards.