Man City 6 Wycombe 1: Guardiola’s youthful XI survives early scare to thump visitors and reach Carabao Cup fourth round
PEP GUARDIOLA is clearly not ready to loosen his grip on this trophy just yet. Last time Manchester City were knocked out of ‘their’ competition was across town at Old Trafford way back in October 2016. That’s a staggering 1792 days ago. For seven amazing first half minutes it looked like League One Wycombe […]
PEP GUARDIOLA is clearly not ready to loosen his grip on this trophy just yet.
Last time Manchester City were knocked out of ‘their’ competition was across town at Old Trafford way back in October 2016.
That’s a staggering 1792 days ago.
For seven amazing first half minutes it looked like League One Wycombe could end that incredible run as Brandon Hanlan gave them a fairytale lead.
But you don’t win a cup four times in a row and then toss it off without a fight.
Guardiola stuck to his word to make changes for this third round and named five teenage debutants as his back five.
But he had an insurance policy of naming five of his big guns further up the pitch.
And led by Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden – who are both feeling their way back from injury – it was soon business as usual.
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England ace Foden stole the show from his fellow midfielder this time – scoring one and creating two more to remind City what they have been missing while he has been out injured.
But KDB, Riyad Mahrez, Ferran Torres and sub Cole Palmer also got in on the act as the champions made their superiority count with yet another Etihad rout.
Wycombe had actually won their previous two meetings with City – and not many teams can say that these days – although they came way back in the 1998/99 League One season.
Gareth Ainsworth’s men have made a solid start to life back in that division after being relegated last season – perched comfortably in the play-offs for now.
Guardiola’s team had a lob-sided look and Wycombe’s forward line including 39-year-old skipper Adebayo Akinfenwa clearly fancied their chances.
The veteran forward is more than twice the age of the guys tasked with marking him – Finley Burns and Luke Mbete – and it made for an entertaining start.
The visitors were very much holding their own – and midway through the first half they were ahead.
Zack Steffen’s punch from a corner only reached the edge of the box and as the ball fizzed around in the area, Ryan Tafazolli squared it.
Hanlon could barely believe his luck as he tapped into an empty net from six yards and then celebrated wildly with the travelling fans.
The 24-year-old’s first goal for the club after his summer move from Bristol Rovers was a moment he will never forget and the Etihad was stunned into silence.
It was 2006 the last time Wanderers won a game in 90 minutes in this competition. They couldn’t – could they?
The lead lasted only seven minutes as two of City’s superstars dug them out of a hole.
Foden glided through the midfield before releasing De Bruyne who cut in from the left before rolling a shot effortlessly across David Stockdale into the far corner.
The pair have hardly featured for the champions this season after picking up injuries during the Euros. Having them back and in full flow will undoubtedly be a huge lift for Guardiola ahead of a big week.
Foden was starting to take control and teed up a chance for Sterling who curled his 18 yard shot around the visitors keeper but against the inside of the post.
Mahrez then did the same thing with that left peg of his a few minutes later – this time hitting the base of the base of the upright.
Another goal seemed inevitable and sure enough it arrived a couple of minutes before the break as young full-back Josh Wilson-Esbrand did some tricks down the left.
He pulled back for Mahrez and this time the Algerian made no mistake – sweeping his left-footed effort beyond Stockdale.
Ainsworth probably wanted to get his team in for a breather but before he could they were further behind.
A short corner from Mahrez found Foden around 25 yards out and he thumped a vicious swerving shot which the Chairboys keeper got a hand to but could not stop.
To be fair to the former Fulham keeper, It might have taken his head off had he got in the way.
Foden had only played 37 minutes of the season – two sub appearances – due to the foot injury suffered on the eve of the Euro 2020 final.
His return to this kind of form is timely with away games at Chelsea, PSG and Liverpool looming in the next 10 days.
To be fair, Wycombe were not for lying down with Anthony Stewart rolling an effort just inches wide and then Steffen had to dash out to block Jordan Obita’s shot.
But City always looked capable of scoring again and they did so when KDB and Foden teed up Torres to tap in the fourth from close range.
A goal for Sterling would have been useful – but he saw one ruled out for offside late on. That’s just the way it’s going for him right now.
Instead he latched onto a pass from De Bruyne and squared for Mahrez to fire in another.
That’s five of the last six home matches that City have scored five or more.
There was still time for England Under 21 new boy Palmer to run half the length of the pitch before curling home a magical sixth – his first for the club.
Cole Palmer – remember the name.
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