Manchester City secured a 2-0 victory over Salford City in the FA Cup fourth round, advancing to the next stage despite a far-from-convincing performance. The match at the Etihad Stadium saw an own goal from Alfie Dorrington in the sixth minute and a late strike from Marc Guehi, who scored his first goal since joining City in January.

Pep Guardiola's side, who thrashed Salford 8-0 last season, made nine changes but struggled to find their rhythm. Salford, owned in part by former Manchester United players Gary Neville and David Beckham, showed marked improvement from last year's drubbing. Former Liverpool midfielder Ben Woodburn forced a fine save from James Trafford before halftime, while substitute Antoine Semenyo hit the post in the closing minutes.

Despite the unconvincing display, City progressed to the fifth round. Guardiola admitted his team was "flat and slow," criticizing their inability to read spaces effectively. Salford's performance drew praise from Paul Merson, who suggested they could earn promotion if they maintain this level in League Two. The Ammies' improvement from an 8-0 defeat to a respectable 2-0 loss represents significant progress for Karl Robinson's side.