Man City 2-0 Salford City LIVE – Guehi secures victory with his first City goal

Pep Guardiola says his players “didn’t read the spaces” well enough today.

“The only good news is that we are through, that’s all.

“Everything was flat, it was slow, and it was not good.”

It was certainly far less memorable (and entertaining) than City’s 10-1 victory in the last round, but both ultimately have the same result – Guardiola’s side advance to the next round of the cup.

A week off now for City, who certainly looked laboured at times today. For Salford, at least it is an improvement on last season.

A great run from Semenyo is picked out by a shrewd through ball from Cherki.

The Ghanian strikes well but is denied by the post.

City finally have their second and it Guehi’s first goal for the club.

It is a great close from Cherki and the Englishman turns it home. Guehi endured a humiliating elimination from this competition with Crystal Palace, but he should now avoid reliving that fate today.

Another Salford double substitution as we are about to enter the final ten minutes.

Awe and Woodburn make way for Turton and Butcher.

Marmoush drives to the by-line and cuts back to O’Reilly who is unlucky not to score.

The rebound comes to Semenyo, but from a tight angle he finds the side-netting.

Rodri replaces Gonzalez for the final 15 minutes.

It remains just 1-0.

Sensing a potential opportunity with this game still alive, Robinson turns to his bench.

N’Mai and Grant make way for Udoh and Ashley.

Guardiola has seen enough and decides to make a triple substitution.

Guehi, O’Reilly and Semenyo replace Stones, Ait-Nouri and Foden.

Salford go close to equalising again, this time through N’Mai.

Trafford makes another good stop, but City really need to shift into gear now or run the risk of extra time or worse.

City continue to get forward in numbers and Cherki slides it to McAidoo.

The youngster strikes well but his curling effort is turned behind for a corner.

Woodburn takes the kick-off and we are back underway in the second half.

No half-time changes from either manager.

When Guardiola’s side took the lead shortly after the five minute mark, you would be forgiven for expecting this result to be a foregone conclusion by half-time. However, Salford have stayed in this game and it is far from over.

The hosts have survived a couple of late scares and know they need to increase their advantage after the break. They have been in almost total control of this match, but need to make their dominance count.

A miscommunication at the back, sees City give up a Salford corner.

With the last action of the first half, it is crossed to two free men at the back-post. However the Salford header is directed off target and City breathe a sigh of relief.

The visitors have their best attack of the match so far, leading to a well-placed shot from Woodburn. However, Trafford produces an excellent save to keep it out.

A first corner will follow for the visitors.

A second goal is proving elusive for the hosts, who continue to try to add to their advantage. This game is far from over at 1-0.

Foden is the latest City player to try his luck, striking well from the edge of the box but just over the crossbar.

Marmoush gets in behind and lashes a volley into the top corner.

However, the flag is already up for offside and with no VAR, the goal will not stand.

Bad news for Guardiola as Alleyne is forced off, following a great tackle which ended Salford’s most-promising attack so far.

McAidoo, who impressed in the last round, comes on in his place.

Unsurprisingly, it has been pretty much all one way so far, with the visitors just trying to avoid conceding anymore goals.

Salford’s primary ambition seems to be bettering last year’s 8-0 defeat, or at minikum avoiding the same fate as Exeter who lost 10-1 here in the last round.

That did not take long and City have the lead.

The cross comes in from Ait-Nouri towards Marmoush and it’s turned in. It may go down as an own goal but City will not care.

An early yellow card for N’Mai.

The Salford man has already put late challenges in on both Marmoush and Alleyne, and is rightly cautioned.

Cherki takes the kick-off for the hosts.

We are underway here!

We are just 15 minutes out from kick-off now.

We will be underway shortly here!

John Stones starts today, and is the only player that remains at City  from the start of Guardiola’s tenure. However, there is another man who featured in Guardiola’s first game in England that is involved today.

Former Sunderland attacker Fabio Borini started against City in Guardiola’s first game in charge at the Etihad, and is named amongst the Salford substitutes today.