Manchester City v Salford City - Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round
Marc Guehi socred his first Man City goal in their FA Cup win over Salford (Picture: Getty)
Manchester City couldn’t resist aiming a subtle dig over Manchester United following Saturday’s FA Cup win over Salford.
The Premier League powerhouses laboured to a 2-0 win over League Two opposition on Saturday to book their place in the fifth round, ahead of Monday’s draw.
Pep Garudiola’s much-changed side were never in danger of succumbing to a giant killing, but were made to work for a fourth straight win in all competitions.
An Alfie Dorrington own goal set the home side on their way to a routine win in the sixth minute, at which point Salford could have been forgiven for thinking they would go the same way as Exteter who conceded 10 times in the previous round.
Instead, City were forced to wait until nine minutes from the end to double their advantage when January signing Marc Guehi scored his first goal for his new club.
Saturday’s fixture represented City’s 41st match of a season that could yet end in an unprecedented treble.
City already have the Carabao Cup final against Arsenal to look forward to next month and have reduced the Gunners’ lead at the top of the Premier League to just four points.
Get your football fix
Don't want to miss the week's biggest football stories? Metro's exclusive football newsletter, In The Mixer, is your essential guide.
From the latest transfer rumours and managerial moves to analysis of the biggest games and a lot more, our experts have you covered.
Sign up here, it's an open goal.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
Progression to the latter rounds of the FA Cup now looks a realistic prospect while a Champions League play-off tie was avoided earlier this month following a win against Galatasaray.
Regardless of how many trophies, if any,they will end up with, City are certain to embark on the sort of marathon campaign United can only look on at with a measure of envy.
After their FA Cup third round defeat at Brighton, which mirrored their premature League Cup demise, and a total lack of European football, United will play just 40 games in total this season, a point not lost on City.
A pointed message on X on Saturday evening read: ‘A win to mark our 41st game of the season!’
City midfielder Tijjani Reijnders, meanwhile has warned Arsenal that City remain firmly ‘on the hunt’ for the title.
Reijnders said: ‘The mood’s been good, but it was also good before. Of course we’ve dropped some points as well but it’s good and we are on the hunt and we keep going.
Manchester City v Salford City - Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round
Tijjani Reijnders played the full 90 minutes against Salford (Picture: Getty)
‘We have to see of course, but if we keep going like this, who knows?’
Reijnders played the full 90 minutes against Salford having been brought in as one of nine changes by Guardiola.
The Dutchman said: ‘Of course they didn’t want a game like last season again, so for them it was only defending.
‘It was sometimes hard to find the spaces in between the lines and create chances but most important is we are through to the next round.’
It is Reijnders’ first season at City following a £46.5million move from AC Milan last summer.
The 27-year-old said: ‘Luckily I’ve played many games already and the coach gave me time to adapt as well, but I really like it.
‘I like the Premier League and especially I like the team where I’m playing now.’
MORE: Wayne Rooney slams ‘one of the worst decisions I’ve ever seen in football’
MORE: Arsenal vs Wigan: Predicted FA Cup lineup today and confirmed team news
MORE: Man Utd urged to hire Champions League manager to catch Arsenal and Man City
Football Newsletter – In The Mixer
Punchy analysis, transfer talk and more from Metro's football experts, sent straight to your inbox every week.