Primary Keywords: Guardiola Laments Boring Manchester City Win As They Progress In FA Cup Against Salford City

Pep Guardiola criticised the level of Manchester City’s display after a 2-0 FA Cup fourth-round win over Salford City, describing the tie as boring and stressing that "The only good news is we go through." City advanced at the Etihad Stadium but produced a flat performance against League Two opposition.

The hosts led inside six minutes when Alfie Dorrington diverted the ball into Salford’s net, before Marc Guehi’s first goal for Manchester City late in the match settled the scoreline. Omar Marmoush also finished neatly during the second half, yet that effort was ruled out for offside after a delayed flag.

Guardiola felt Manchester City struggled to interpret Salford’s defensive shape, and highlighted that failure as the main issue. "After 2-0 [it was better]. We didn’t read the spaces where they were. Always the spaces we attack depends on where we defend, and we didn’t read it," Guardiola said.

The manager underlined Manchester City’s need to move the ball with more purpose in future FA Cup ties. "We have to spend a lot of time to make the process quicker and better. The only good news is we go through. It would be nice to say that mentally we’re exhausted, but this is our job, and we have to do what we have to do." Guardiola then added: "We didn’t read the spaces, that’s why everything was flat and slow, and it was not good. That’s why it was boring."

Salford carried a modest attacking threat on paper, finishing with six attempts and 0.4 expected goals, yet still troubled goalkeeper James Trafford on key occasions. Ben Woodburn and Kelly N’Mai each forced strong stops either side of half-time, leading Trafford to say: "I knew I wasn’t going to have too much to do but when I was called upon, I had to do well," said Trafford.

Trafford has largely featured as understudy since Gianluigi Donnarumma joined late in the summer transfer window, and is focused on using limited minutes well. "It was nice [to play], it wasn’t what I expected coming into the season," the former Burnley man said. "I tried to guard against it. It’s the reality, and I have to give it my best shot. It’s the situation Im in. We train every day, but making saves, it’s good fun. It’s one of them, it’s a knockout competition. We won, and we have a week until the next game. We have to keep going."

Manchester City’s attack produced sustained pressure without the cutting edge seen in the 10-1 third-round win over Exeter City. Guardiola’s team registered 19 shots worth 2.4 expected goals, yet hit the target only four times. The result still extended Manchester City’s run to 17 straight FA Cup victories at the Etihad, matching the club’s longest home streak in the competition and maintaining control of another cup campaign.