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Bristol City 0-3 Manchester City: Phil Foden scores twice as visitors progress

Phil Foden says he feels “100% fit” after “one of the worst parts of my career” as his double sent Manchester City past Championship side Bristol City into the FA Cup quarter-finals.

England attacking midfielder Foden lost his place in his side’s starting line-up after some disappointing performances following the World Cup.

But he has now scored three goals in four days, having netted against Bournemouth on Saturday, and Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said Foden was “back for the best bit of the season”.

The 22-year-old slammed in an early opener at the back post from Riyad Mahrez’s ball across the six-yard box.

He netted his second from Julian Alvarez’s pass, with a first-time effort deflecting past Max O’Leary.

Kevin de Bruyne added a wonderful third from 25 yards into the bottom corner late on for the visitors.

“I feel much better with my feet,” said Foden. “I feel 100% fit now and comfortable. It has been one of the worst parts of my career but everyone goes through them and it is how you react.

“[The issue was] discomfort in my feet and not playing as much. I love to play football and when I don’t I am a bit frustrated.”

Guardiola said: “His career was always up, up, up. This season he struggled a bit and was a bit down. But now he’s back for the best bit of the season.”

Bristol City, who had been unbeaten in 12 games going back to 26 December, gave a good account of themselves for long spells, with a Mark Sykes penalty appeal waved away and Alex Scott forcing a save from Stefan Ortega.

But treble-chasing Manchester City could have won by more, with Kalvin Phillips hitting the crossbar after just one minute.

Foden shines as Man City get the job done

Guardiola has always taken the domestic cups seriously and that continued with a strong starting line-up at a sold-out Ashton Gate.

Top scorer Erling Haaland was left on the bench but the majority of the Premier League champions’ first-team stars were involved, including De Bruyne on his return from illness.

The Belgian maestro was involved in the opener, feeding Mahrez down the right before the Algerian – who played under Bristol City boss Nigel Pearson at Leicester – found Foden who slotted home.

Foden also netted against Bournemouth in the Premier League on Saturday, which was only his second goal since the World Cup.

The visitors could already have been ahead by then with Phillips crashing a 25-yard shot off the bar after just 60 seconds.

They had other chances to score before the break with Ruben Dias heading straight at O’Leary and De Bruyne drilling over from inside the box.

In the second half Guardiola’s side eventually ran away with it, with Foden scoring his second via a Zak Vyner deflection before De Bruyne’s long-range strike capped the win.

Manchester City – who have only won one FA Cup under Guardiola – are still fighting for three competitions.

They sit two points behind league leaders Arsenal, and drew 1-1 at RB Leipzig in the Champions League last 16 first leg.

Back to Championship as Robins’ unbeaten run ends

This was Bristol City’s first defeat in 2023, after 12 games unbeaten since losing to West Brom on Boxing Day.

But they gave their home fans reason to be proud with a battling display against their more illustrious visitors, especially at 1-0.

The video assistant referee system is only in operation at Premier League grounds, meaning there was no review when Sykes went down after being clipped by Rico Lewis.

Had there been VAR it could possibly have been deemed a penalty for the home side.

Tomas Kalas was a colossus at the back for the Robins, with several blocks and last-ditch tackles denying their opponents.

Sam Bell, who had an early shot blocked, headed wide in one of Bristol City’s few second-half chances.

But Manchester City’s quality shone through in the latter stages.

Vyner will be relieved he was not credited with an own goal for deflecting Foden’s second past O’Leary.

Pearson’s side will now turn their focus back to the Championship, where they sit 13th, nine points off the play-offs.

Player of the match

FodenPhil Foden

with an average of 7.59

Bristol City

  1. Squad number7Player nameScott
    Average rating

    6.67

  2. Squad number22Player nameKalas
    Average rating

    6.64

  3. Squad number21Player nameWells

    Average rating

    6.61

  4. Squad number20Player nameBell

    Average rating

    6.57

  5. Squad number16Player namePring

    Average rating

    6.57

  6. Squad number6Player nameJames

    Average rating

    6.41

  7. Squad number8Player nameWilliams

    Average rating

    6.41

  8. Squad number17Player nameSykes

    Average rating

    6.37

  9. Squad number19Player nameTanner

    Average rating

    6.31

  10. Squad number12Player nameO’Leary

    Average rating

    6.30

  11. Squad number14Player nameWeimann

    Average rating

    6.17

  12. Squad number26Player nameVyner

    Average rating

    6.11

  13. Squad number35Player nameTaylor-Clarke

    Average rating

    5.56

  14. Squad number3Player nameDasilva

    Average rating

    5.54

  15. Squad number36Player nameFrancois

    Average rating

    5.53

  16. Squad number10Player nameKing

    Average rating

    5.26

Manchester City

  1. Squad number47Player nameFoden
    Average rating

    7.59

  2. Squad number10Player nameGrealish
    Average rating

    7.12

  3. Squad number17Player nameDe Bruyne
    Average rating

    6.90

  4. Squad number32Player namePerrone
    Average rating

    6.64

  5. Squad number21Player nameGómez
    Average rating

    6.57

  6. Squad number80Player namePalmer
    Average rating

    6.55

  7. Squad number26Player nameMahrez
    Average rating

    6.51

  8. Squad number19Player nameÁlvarez
    Average rating

    6.41

  9. Squad number4Player namePhillips
    Average rating

    6.38

  10. Squad number6Player nameAké
    Average rating

    6.33

  11. Squad number82Player nameLewis
    Average rating

    6.31

  12. Squad number3Player nameRúben Dias
    Average rating

    6.28

  13. Squad number20Player nameBernardo Silva
    Average rating

    6.23

  14. Squad number25Player nameAkanji
    Average rating

    6.07

  15. Squad number18Player nameOrtega
    Average rating

    5.82

  16. Squad number31Player nameEderson
    Average rating

    5.48

Line-ups

Bristol City

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 12O’Leary
  • 19TannerSubstituted forWeimannat 45′minutes
  • 26Vyner
  • 22Kalas
  • 16PringSubstituted forDasilvaat 77′minutes
  • 6JamesSubstituted forKingat 89′minutes
  • 8WilliamsBooked at 87minsSubstituted forTaylor-Clarkeat 89′minutes
  • 17Sykes
  • 7Scott
  • 20Bell
  • 21WellsSubstituted forFrancoisat 82′minutes

Substitutes

  • 2Wilson
  • 3Dasilva
  • 10King
  • 14Weimann
  • 23Haikin
  • 35Taylor-Clarke
  • 36Francois
  • 37Thomas
  • 42Morrison

Man City

Formation 3-2-4-1

  • 18OrtegaSubstituted forEdersonat 45′minutes
  • 6AkéSubstituted forGómezat 83′minutes
  • 3Rúben Dias
  • 25Akanji
  • 17De Bruyne
  • 82Lewis
  • 4Phillips
  • 20Bernardo SilvaBooked at 87minsSubstituted forPerroneat 88′minutes
  • 19Álvarez
  • 26MahrezSubstituted forGrealishat 71′minutes
  • 47FodenBooked at 66minsSubstituted forPalmerat 83′minutes

Substitutes

  • 2Walker
  • 8Gündogan
  • 9Haaland
  • 10Grealish
  • 16Rodri
  • 21Gómez
  • 31Ederson
  • 32Perrone
  • 80Palmer

Referee:
Andre Marriner

Attendance:
25,713

Match Stats

Live Text

  1. Match ends, Bristol City 0, Manchester City 3.

  2. Second Half ends, Bristol City 0, Manchester City 3.

  3. Foul by Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City).

  4. Omar Taylor-Clarke (Bristol City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  5. Substitution, Bristol City. Andy King replaces Matty James.

  6. Substitution, Bristol City. Omar Taylor-Clarke replaces Joe Williams.

  7. Delay over. They are ready to continue.

  8. Substitution, Manchester City. Máximo Perrone replaces Bernardo Silva.

  9. Joe Williams (Bristol City) is shown the yellow card.

  10. Bernardo Silva (Manchester City) is shown the yellow card.

  11. Foul by Bernardo Silva (Manchester City).

  12. Joe Williams (Bristol City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  13. Attempt blocked. Julián Álvarez (Manchester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Bernardo Silva.

  14. Substitution, Manchester City. Sergio Gómez replaces Nathan Aké.

  15. Substitution, Manchester City. Cole Palmer replaces Phil Foden.

  16. Substitution, Bristol City. Marlee Francois replaces Nahki Wells.

  17. Goal! Bristol City 0, Manchester City 3. Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) right footed shot from outside the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Jack Grealish.

  18. Foul by Manuel Akanji (Manchester City).

  19. Nahki Wells (Bristol City) wins a free kick on the left wing.

  20. Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Max O’Leary.

Sourced From BBC

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