Holders Manchester City eased into the fifth round of the FA Cup on Sunday with a comfortable 4-0 win over ten-man Fulham.
The Cottagers made a disastrous start when Tim Ream pulled back Gabriel Jesus inside the box, earning himself a red card and giving away a penalty inside ten minutes.
Tim Ream of Fulham fouls Gabriel Jesus of Manchester City leading to a penalty during the FA Cup Fourth Round match between Manchester City and Fulham at Etihad Stadium on January 26, 2020 in Manchester, England
Image credit: Getty Images
Ilkay Gundogan dispatched from the spot to make Fulham’s already colossal task even harder, and City put hopes to bed 10 minutes later when Bernardo Silva found space outside the box to rifle home for 2-0.
The hosts missed several chances to kill the game off, as Riyad Mahrez and Phil Foden scooped over from close range before substitute Raheem Sterling whacked the crossbar.
And while City boss Pep Guardiola cut a frustrated figure on the touchline, City finally got the job done as Gabriel Jesus scored a quickfire brace with two headers to ensure City avoid a perilously exhausting replay.
TALKING POINT
Red card killed game. Ream’s early red card killed this as a contest, and from then on Fulham had no option but damage control. They sat back, way back, and City were forced into ugly football as they struggled to break through. While a win was never in doubt, Fulham refused to be embarrassed and so as a spectacle, this one failed to take off.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City): A quick fire brace among wasteful team mates, earns the man of the match award for killing this one off once and for all.
Manchester City's Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus (R) jumps to head home their third goal during the English FA Cup fourth round football match between Manchester City and Fulham at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on January 26, 2020
Image credit: Getty Images
PLAYER RATINGS
MANCHESTER CITY: Bravo (6), Cancelo (7), Garcia (6), Otamendi (7), Angelino (7), Gundogan (8), Silva (8), Foden (5), Bernardo (7), Mahrez (6), Jesus (7) Subs: Sterling (6), Stones (5), Rodri (5)
FULHAM: Rodak (6), Hector (5), Johansen (7), Ream (1), Decordova-Reid (7), Kongolo (6), Cavaleiro (5), Christie (4), Bryan (6), Onomah (5), Sessegnon (5) Subs: Jasper (n/a), Odoi (5), Cairney (5)
KEY MOMENTS
6’ - PENALTY AND A RED CARD! Ream, who started the game with a nervous touch, pulls back Jesus who is just about through on goal. It's a double whammy penalty and a red. Awful decision making.
8’ - GOAL! Manchester City take the lead! Ilkay Gundogan strokes the penalty beautifully into the bottom corner. This could turn into a long, long afternoon for Fulham. Nightmare start.
Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City during the FA Cup Fourth Round match between Manchester City and Fulham at Etihad Stadium on January 26, 2020 in Manchester, England.
Image credit: Getty Images
20’ - GOAL! Superb finish from Bernardo Silva! Five-a-side defending from Fulham and Silva just turns them all before finding space to shoot on his left foot into the bottom corner. Damage limitation now.
59’ - OFF THE BAR! Sterling, out of nowhere, lashes against the bar.
73’ - GOAL! Jesus grabs the third that kills this game off once and for all. Kongolo gets caught at the back and Silva nips in. Cancelo finds Jesus at the back post for a fine header but....VAR check... THE GOAL STANDS
76’ - GOAL! Jesus has a brace in two minutes! He's lurking and picks up the seconds after Rodak makes the save but can only parry towards the Brazilian.
KEY STATS
- This is the seventh consecutive season Man City have scored at least 100 goals in all competitions, becoming the first Premier League team to achieve this since Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United did so in nine consecutive seasons between 2004/05 and 2012/13.
- Manchester City have won all six of their home FA Cup matches under Pep Guardiola, scoring 29 goals and conceding only three.
- Tim Ream received his first red card in English football, with this game his 306th appearance across spells at Bolton Wanderers and Fulham.
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