FA Cup: Manchester City survive scare towards Cheltenham to advance to subsequent spherical

Image Source : AP Manchester City got here from a objective down within the second half to beat Cheltenham within the fourth spherical of the FA Cup.
Last season’s FA Cup winner Arsenal was eradicated from the competitors within the fourth spherical on Saturday due to Gabriel’s own-goal in a 1-0 loss to Southampton, whereas Manchester City survived a scare to beat fourth-tier Cheltenham 3-1.
In an in any other case shut recreation, Gabriel’s determination to attempt to block a shot from Kyle Walker-Peters proved decisive for Arsenal shedding its maintain on the cup.

Right-back Walker-Peters was allowed loads of area to overlap the Arsenal protection, however his shot appeared to be heading narrowly large of the far put up earlier than Gabriel’s failed try deflected the ball off the put up and in. It was the primary objective Arsenal had conceded since Dec. 26 after 5 consecutive shutouts.
“I’m very upset as a result of we wished to proceed within the competitors, we had a dream to do it once more like final 12 months and the dream right this moment is over,” Arsenal supervisor Mikel Arteta mentioned.
“I am as well disappointed with the way we conceded the goal in an area where we know we shouldn’t be doing that,” he added. “At the same time, I cannot fault the effort of the players, how they tried and how they went to get a goal in the second half.”
Arsenal has gained the FA Cup a document 14 occasions and Arteta earlier than kickoff referred to as it “our favorite competition.” Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored each of the workforce’s targets within the 2-1 win over Chelsea in final 12 months’s last, however he wasn’t out there Saturday on account of what Arteta referred to as “a personal matter.” Arteta mentioned he could not but predict when Aubameyang may return.
Southampton strikes on to a fifth-round recreation away at Wolverhampton, which beat sixth-tier Chorley on Friday.
CITY UNDER PRESSURE
Cheltenham got here near one of many greatest shocks within the 150-year historical past of the FA Cup earlier than Pep Guardiola’s City workforce scored three late targets.
An extended throw-in from Cheltenham captain Ben Tozer induced a mix-up within the City protection and Alfie May seized on a deflection to stab the ball into the online.
In the 81st minute City lastly pulled degree as Phil Foden met Joao Cancelo’s cross on the far put up and knocked the ball into the online. Gabriel Jesus scored City’s second three minutes later to keep away from further time, although his objective could have been deemed offside if the video overview system — not utilized in cup video games at non-Premier League stadiums — had been in operation.

Ferran Torres added a 3rd in stoppage time to make sure City strikes on to play Swansea within the fifth spherical.
“We learned to suffer and at the end the quality made the difference. We won the game and we are happy to win this game in this type of competition,” Guardiola said. “We knew how tough it would be and the response from the players was magnificent.”
City had been brilliantly denied an opener after 12 minutes. Tommy Doyle’s cross was half cleared to Benjamin Mendy and the defender’s angled rocket was cleverly — and bravely — cleared off the road for a nook by Tozer.
Guardiola tried to make use of the sport to present his younger gamers expertise, however ended up bringing Cancelo, Ruben Dias and Ilkay Gundogan off the bench.
“The players they brought on from the bench probably tells you something, and the way they celebrated the goals probably tells you something as well,” Cheltenham manager Michael Duff said. “I think they’ll know they’ve been in a game.”
The recreation was briefly interrupted within the first half with the rating at 0-0 due to a close-by fireworks show in Cheltenham’s purple and white colours. Even in defeat, Cheltenham’s battling efficiency towards one of many world’s greatest golf equipment will seemingly turn into a part of native folklore.
SHEFFIELD WINS AGAIN
Premier League golf equipment Brighton, West Ham and Sheffield United all gained their fourth-round video games towards lower-league groups. Brighton edged out third-tier Blackpool 2-1, whereas West Ham cruised to a 4-0 win over Doncaster. Sheffield did not win a recreation in any competitors this season till Jan. 9 however has now gained three of its final 4 following Saturday’s 2-1 win over Plymouth.
VILLA ON THE RISE
Aston Villa beat Newcastle 2-0 to maneuver inside three factors of sixth-place Everton in the one Premier League recreation on Saturday.
Ollie Watkins and Bertrand Traore scored first-half targets for the hosts.
Newcastle misplaced its fourth straight league recreation and is in sixteenth place, rising the strain on supervisor Steve Bruce.