Manchester City obliterated Salford City in the FA Cup third round, with a stellar performance from academy graduate James McAtee, who netted a hat-trick. Jeremy Doku dazzled with two goals and two assists, while Jack Grealish ended his scoring drought. Here’s a breakdown of the performances:
Table of Contents
Goalkeeper & Defence
Ederson (6/10): Had little to do, making just one straightforward save from Kouassi’s weak effort.
Matheus Nunes (8/10): Instrumental in transitions, contributing to two goals with precise passes and clever movement.
Jahmai Simpson-Pusey (5/10): Struggled defensively, missing key opportunities and almost gifting Salford a goal.
Nathan Ake (6/10): Solid but rarely challenged. Subbed off at halftime for Akanji.
Midfield
Ilkay Gundogan (6/10): Showed moments of vulnerability in pace and passing but maintained control overall.
James McAtee (9/10): The star of the show. Recovered from an early mistake to score a sensational hat-trick with brilliant finishing and movement.
Nico O’Reilly (7/10): Adapted well to a new position and scored his first goal for the club after a smooth link-up with Doku.
Jack Grealish (7/10): Redeemed himself with a penalty goal and an assist, showing marked improvement from recent performances.
Man City Player Ratings vs Salford City: Academy Talent Shines in 8-0 FA Cup Rout.
Attack
Jeremy Doku (9/10): Unstoppable on the wing, contributing directly to four goals and tormenting Salford’s defense throughout.
Divin Mubama (7/10): Marked his debut with a well-taken goal and demonstrated great work ethic.
Savinho (7/10): Consistently dangerous on the flank, showcasing his growth since joining the team.
Substitutes
Manuel Akanji (5/10): Comfortable but slightly complacent, allowing Salford a few late opportunities.
Phil Foden (6/10): Missed scoring chances but assisted McAtee’s second goal with precision.
Mateo Kovacic (5/10): Limited impact but had a long-range attempt.
Manager
Pep Guardiola (7/10): Rotated the squad effectively, giving young players a platform to shine while maintaining the team’s dominance.
Summary
City’s emphatic win highlighted their squad depth and academy strength. McAtee’s hat-trick and Doku’s brilliance will give Guardiola plenty to smile about as City progress to the next round of the FA Cup.