Media caption,

Guehi scores as Man City beat spirited Salford

At a glance

  • Man City take early lead when Alfie Dorrington puts past own keeper

  • James Trafford forced into fine save to deny Ben Woodburn

  • Hosts lose Max Alleyne to injury in first half

  • Substitute Marc Guehi makes it 2-0 with first Man City goal late on

ByNeil Johnston
BBC Sport journalist at Etihad Stadium

A much-changed Manchester City survived a couple of big scares and an injury setback to see off League Two Salford City in the FA Cup and book their place in Monday's fifth-round draw.

The seven-time winners, who put 10 past Exeter City in the third round, got off to a flying start on Saturday when Alfie Dorrington put past his own keeper inside six minutes.

However, the hosts - who made nine changes - struggled to build on their lead and lost defender Max Alleyne to injury in the 22nd minute.

Salford, thrashed 8-0 by City in the third round last season, regrouped after conceding early and twice went close to scoring before half-time.

Former Liverpool player Ben Woodburn forced a fine save from James Trafford before Brandon Cooper headed wide from a corner right at end of the half.

Salford had further chances to score after the interval, with Dutch midfielder Kelly N'Mai firing into the chest of Trafford.

Guardiola, who was without Erling Haaland, sent on Antoine Semenyo, Marc Guehi and Nico O'Reilly to inject some energy into a lacklustre performance - and Guehi responded with his first goal for the club to put the tie to bed.

The England defender, who helped Crystal Palace overcome Guardiola's side in last season's final, slotted home after keeper Matthew Young could only palm a cross into his path.

Guehi, who was part of the Eagles side shocked by non-league Macclesfield in the third round, had only been eligible to play for City following a refresh to the competition's regulations prior to the 2025-26 season.

Under the old laws Guehi would have been cup-tied, but the Football Association now deem that "a player may play for a maximum of one other club in the competition proper", but cannot play for two different teams in the same round.

The 25-year-old is one of 27 players to have featured for two clubs in the FA Cup since the alteration.

Man City analysis: Hosts struggle but get job done

This victory extended City's winning run in FA Cup home ties to 17, since they were knocked out by Championship club Middlesbrough in the fourth round in 2015.

That streak includes 77 goals and 11 clean sheets, but this was a scrappy performance by a club looking to reach a fourth FA Cup final in a row.

Salford, co-owned by former Manchester United stars Gary Neville and David Beckham, were in the tie right up until Guehi doubled the hosts' advantage in the 81st minute, and will take heart from this performance as they look to secure promotion to League One.

While Guardiola's side failed to hit top gear, there were still a couple of positives to take from this performance.

John Stones emerged from his first start since November unscathed, while Trafford - starting in place of regular number one Gianluigi Donnarumma - made a couple of decent saves as he looks to seal a place in the starting XI against Arsenal in next month's Carabao Cup final.

There was also Guehi's first Manchester City goal to celebrate, with the centre-half pouncing to help ease some home nerves late on.

Player of the match

Number: 15 M. Guéhi
Average rating 7.34
Number: 15 M. Guéhi
Average Rating: 7.34
Number: 1 J. Trafford
Average Rating: 7.08
Number: 42 A. Semenyo
Average Rating: 6.70
Number: 7 Omar Marmoush
Average Rating: 6.66
Number: 33 N. O'Reilly
Average Rating: 6.60
Number: 45 A. Khusanov
Average Rating: 6.49
Number: 16 Rodri
Average Rating: 6.46
Number: 10 R. Cherki
Average Rating: 6.29
Number: 21 R. Aït-Nouri
Average Rating: 6.22
Number: 5 J. Stones
Average Rating: 6.19
Number: 47 P. Foden
Average Rating: 6.05
Number: 14 Nico González
Average Rating: 6.00
Number: 4 T. Reijnders
Average Rating: 5.91
Number: 56 R. McAidoo
Average Rating: 5.90
Number: 68 M. Alleyne
Average Rating: 5.71
Number: 82 R. Lewis
Average Rating: 5.58

After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users.