Manchester City moved into the fifth round of the FA Cup after overcoming Salford City with a 2-0 victory at the Etihad Stadium, though the performance rarely reached the heights supporters have come to expect.
Having dismantled their local opponents 8-0 in the same competition last season, many anticipated another emphatic display.
Instead, this was a more measured and at times subdued affair, settled by an early own goal from Alfie Dorrington and a late strike from Marc Guehi.
Guardiola opted to rotate heavily, making nine changes to his last starting line-up, and the reshuffled side never truly found top gear.
Nevertheless, they controlled proceedings for long spells and ensured there would be no upset against their League Two visitors.
City’s decisive moment arrived just six minutes into the contest. A low delivery into the area caused confusion in the Salford defence and Dorrington’s attempt to intervene only diverted the ball beyond his own goalkeeper.
The early setback drained much of the competitive edge from the tie and handed the hosts immediate control.
With the advantage secured, City dictated possession in typically patient fashion.
However, the fluency that often characterises Guardiola’s side was missing. Passes occasionally went astray and movement in the final third lacked sharpness. It was professional rather than spectacular.
Salford, to their credit, gradually found confidence. The visitors, known as the Ammies and part-owned by former Manchester United figures Gary Neville and David Beckham, showed little sign of intimidation once they settled.
They pressed in phases and sought to exploit moments on the counter-attack.
Their best opportunity of the first half fell to former Liverpool midfielder Ben Woodburn.
After working space on the edge of the area, he unleashed a powerful effort that demanded a smart stop from James Trafford.
The City goalkeeper reacted swiftly, pushing the ball away to preserve the lead and prevent any shift in momentum.
Despite that scare, the hosts largely kept Salford at arm’s length. The visitors struggled to create sustained pressure, and City’s backline, though rarely tested, remained organised and alert.
As the second half unfolded, the pattern remained much the same. City circulated the ball confidently but without urgency, content to manage the tempo.
Salford, while industrious, lacked the cutting edge required to seriously trouble their illustrious neighbours.
Guardiola turned to his bench in search of renewed energy. Among those introduced was Marc Guehi, and his impact proved decisive in extinguishing any lingering hope of a dramatic finale.
With nine minutes remaining, City finally produced a moment of incisiveness. A shot from distance was parried by the Salford goalkeeper, and Guehi reacted quickest to the loose ball, converting from close range for his first goal for the club.
The finish effectively ended the contest and confirmed City’s passage into the next round.
Another substitute, Antoine Semenyo, came close to adding further gloss to the scoreline late on.
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His effort struck the post in the closing stages, a reminder that the margin might have been wider had City displayed greater ruthlessness in front of goal.
Speaking after the match, Trafford admitted that he didn’t plan to become a back-up goalkeeper at City after his summer move from Burnley.
“It wasn’t what I expected coming into the season,” the England international told BBC Sports according to City Xtra
“I tried to guard against it. It’s the reality and I have to give it my best shot. It’s the situation I’m in. We train every day but making saves, it’s good fun.”
Meanwhile, Trafford started the first few Premier League matches at the start of the season before the arrival of Gianluigi Donnarumma. He, however, lost his position to the Italian who was preferred by Pep Guardiola for league and the UEFA Champions League matches.
