Football: Soccer-No dramas as Man City ease past Swindon in FA Cup

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SWINDON, England (Reuters) -Premier League leaders Manchester City made mild work of fourth-tier Swindon Town in a 4-1 away victory in the opening salvo of a busy weekend of FA Cup third spherical motion on Friday.

A full home on the County Ground had their hopes of a well-known upset crushed contained in the opening half hour as a powerful City aspect struck twice by way of Bernardo Silva and Gabriel Jesus.

Swindon, who’ve fallen on arduous occasions since a short membership of the Premier League in 1993-94, caught to their weapons all through however had been in the end outclassed by City’s slickers.

City, 72 rungs above their hosts on English soccer’s ladder, took the lead when spectacular teenager Cole Palmer crossed for Silva to faucet dwelling and had been gifted a second in the twenty eighth minute when Jesus transformed from Kevin de Bruyne’s cross after Swindon had been ruthlessly punished for making an attempt to play out from the again.

Ilkay Gundogan stroked a pinpoint free kick across the wall to make it 3-0 in the 59th minute and Jesus had a penalty saved by Swindon keeper Lewis Ward shortly after.

If Ward’s save drew an enormous cheer from the 15,000 crowd, the decibel stage went by way of the roof with simply over 10 minutes left on the clock as Swindon striker Harry McKirdy struck a well-taken comfort objective.

City, with out supervisor Pep Guardiola in attendance due to COVID-19 however with seven of the beginning line-up from their victory at Arsenal on New Year’s Day, ensured there was no late drama as Palmer picked out the highest nook with a surprising left-foot shot from an acute angle.

Just as towards Arsenal, City had a clutch of gamers unavailable due to COVID infections however their beginning line-up was nonetheless full of worldwide high quality.

It was academy product Palmer who stole the limelight, although, with a blinding show, together with a mesmerizing dribble down the correct to arrange Silva for the opener.

“We have him coaching with us each day and he has nice high quality, everybody can see that,” Guardiola’s assistant Rodolfo Borrell instructed ITV Sport.

“He is a good participant, there may be quite a lot of expertise there and hopefully very quickly he can begin to play extra minutes with us like Phil Foden did a few years in the past.”

For Swindon, taking part in their first FA Cup third spherical tie for a decade, it was a particular night time even when the consequence was not the one they’d hoped for.

Early final yr they had been in hazard of chapter and had been relegated from League One and earlier than the beginning of the season they had been struggling to pay their employees.

But below supervisor Ben Garner they’ve impressed this season with an attention grabbing possession-based type.

They remained true to their rules however had been by no means going to beat Manchester City at their very own sport.

“The gamers in there it’s a nice expertise for them,” Garner mentioned. “Hopefully there’s a few in there who will go on and play in the Premier League. I’d wish to assume they’ll.”

(Reporting by Martyn HermanEditing by Christian Radnedge)



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