Manchester City overcame a spirited Sheffield Wednesday to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals and stay on course for a domestic and European cup treble.
Fresh from their Carabao Cup triumph at Wembley, holders City moved into the last eight of the FA Cup as Sergio Aguero’s 23rd goal of the season saw off their Championship opponents at Hillsborough.
Up until the Argentine found the net with a strong left-foot finish, City had been frustrated by a stubborn Wednesday defensive performance.
Nicolas Otamendi and Benjamin Mendy both hit the bar when the tie was goalless yet City, who dominated possession, had to wait 48 minutes before they managed a shot on target.
Wednesday have endured a wretched run of form and although City keeper Claudio Bravo did not have a save to make, they at least ensured they were not embarrassed.
Aguero, who scored in the 2-1 Carabao Cup final win over Aston Villa on Sunday, has now scored 20 FA Cup goals in 22 ties since joining City in 2011.
City thirsty for more trophies
Hot on the heels of their domestic cup triumph at Wembley, City arrived in Sheffield looking to progress in another competition.
Liverpool may be galloping away with the Premier League but Pep Guardiola’s men still have more trophies in their sight after the Carabao Cup secured the Spaniard his sixth piece of major silverware since arriving in 2016.
Guardiola’s thirst for trophies was reflected in the strong team he fielded. Although there was no Kevin de Bruyne, who Guardiola revealed after the game was not fit, City still put out a side that boasted a combined 144 Premier League starts this season.
Although Gabriel Jesus started on the left of a front three, City ended the first half without managing an attempt on target – the first time Guardiola’s side have not forced a save in 45 minutes since they played Wednesday’s rivals Sheffield United in December.
It was not until the 33rd minute that they seriously threatened, Otamendi crashing a header against the bar after connecting with Riyad Mahrez’s free-kick following a foul on Bernardo Silva.
For a side that arrived for this tie having scored 109 goals in all competitions, City were strangely subdued in front of goal as John Stones headed a glorious chance over before Aguero forced Joe Wildman into his first save in the 48th minute.
City dominated the second half and once Aguero scored – soon after Mendy had rattled the bar with a ferocious attempt – there only looked to be one outcome.
Valiant Owls show good reaction
Wednesday fans gave their team a standing ovation after the final whistle – something Hillsborough has not witnessed for some time.
While Sheffield United are flying in the Premier League and chasing a place in Europe, Wednesday’s season has fallen flat.
Third in the table in December, the Owls are treading water in mid-table after a dreadful run of form in 2020.
This was a chance for Garry Monk’s side to forget about their league troubles – a free hit against Premier League royalty – and for long spells they acquitted themselves well as City were limited to a handful of chances in a largely uneventful first half.
They started strongly with Jacob Murphy showing confidence to get the game’s first shot away but Wednesday spent long periods penned inside their own half.
In the end, it was a valiant performance by the hosts and a good reaction after their poor run. Monk will hope they can now start to pick up in the league.
Man of the match Bernardo Silva – (Manchester City)
‘The players did exactly what I asked’ – what they said
Sheffield Wednesday boss Garry Monk: “In terms of the gameplan we had, the competitiveness of what we needed to do and the concentration needed, the players did exactly what I asked them to do and delivered it at a very good level.
“Overall, disappointed to lose the game, especially on a goal that should have been offside. We would rather have lost to a goal that was more legitimate, but credit to them, they are a fantastic team.
“But I’ve said it all along, when these players follow a gameplan with that level of commitment and attitude – that’s why we were third at Christmas.
“We’ve come off that in the last 10 games or so. We need to get back to that but tonight hopefully gives the players the confidence to go and do that in the remaining games.”
Prolific Sergio – the stats
- Since Pep Guardiola joined Manchester City in August 2016, the Spaniard has overseen 15 victories in FA Cup matches (D1 L2), at least five more wins in the competition than any other manager over this period.
- Man City have kept 11 clean sheets in their 18 FA Cup matches under Pep Guardiola, conceding just nine times; only Chelsea (12) have managed more since the competition kicked off in 2016.
- In all competitions, Sheffield Wednesday have lost six of their last eight games at home (W1 D1), as many defeats as they suffered across the previous 29 at Hillsborough.
- Since he joined Manchester City in 2011, Sergio Aguero has netted 20 FA Cup goals in just 22 games in the competition, the most of any player.
- Man City striker Sergio Aguero is the outright leading goalscorer of all Premier League players this season, netting 23 times across all competitions so far in 2019-20.
- Garry Monk has now lost five of his six English domestic cup matches as a manager against sides from a higher division across spells with Leeds, Middlesbrough, Birmingham and current club Sheffield Wednesday – with the other match a 1-0 win at Brighton in round three this season.
- Sheffield Wednesday’s one and only shot of the match was the first attempt from either side in the game – coming with exactly six minutes on the clock from Jacob Murphy.
What’s next?
While the Owls turn their attention back to the Championship and a visit to Brentford on Saturday (15:00 GMT), City have a derby to prepare for and a visit to Old Trafford to face Manchester United on Sunday (16:30 GMT).
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