Manchester Metropolis sauntered into the fourth spherical of the FA Cup as James McAtee scored a hat-trick in an 8-0 drubbing of League Two facet Salford Metropolis on the Etihad Stadium.

Jeremy Doku weighed in with two objectives whereas Jack Grealish ended his lengthy scoring drought and children Divin Mubama and Nico O’Reilly additionally struck in a one-sided encounter on the Etihad Stadium.

It was a brutal exhibition by a much-changed Metropolis, whose followers revelled within the beating dished out to their ‘Class of 92’-owned guests.

Night time to overlook for Neville at rivals’ house

Gary Neville, one in every of that group of well-known former Manchester United gamers, was taunted mercilessly because the objectives flew in.

The England full-back turned pundit and businessman was not truly current to witness the rout, however colleagues Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes had been available to see it unfold in agonising element from the stands.

Ryan Giggs, the sporting director who additionally has a backroom function, was additionally at shut hand within the technical space as the most important sport in Salford’s historical past shortly turned bitter.

Metropolis made 9 modifications from the facet that overran West Ham final weekend and took the chance handy a debut to 20-year-old Mubama and additional expertise to 19-year-olds O’Reilly and Jahmai Simpson-Pusey.

Simpson-Pusey was one in every of solely two specialist defenders within the facet together with the skilled Nathan Ake however, with a bench stacked with high quality, Pep Guardiola had loads of insurance coverage ought to issues have gone incorrect.

But Erling Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden wanted solely to look on as Metropolis shortly established management.

The hosts took the lead after solely eight minutes as Matheus Nunes seized possession and fed Grealish, who performed the ball extensive for Doku to comb previous Matty Younger from a decent angle.

The second got here after 20 minutes as Savinho performed in Nunes and he pulled again for Mubama to slip in for a easy end.

Salford had possibilities to answer as Metropolis eased off the stress, with Kylian Kouassi taking pictures at Ederson after a superb run and later fluffing a shot from a superb cross by Hakeeb Adelakun.

Kevin Berkoe additionally snatched at an effort however Metropolis merely moved up by means of the gears in response.

Doku weaved his option to the byline and O’Reilly firmly drove house his first senior purpose earlier than the break.

Grealish, and not using a purpose in membership soccer since December 2023, acquired again on the scoresheet 4 minutes after the break.

The England worldwide might need scored from open play after Mubama raced onto a poor backpass to set him up, however he made no mistake from the spot after being felled by Ossama Ashley.

Metropolis’s fifth got here from a fluid transfer quickly after as Nunes launched Doku and his first-time cross was deftly guided in by McAtee.

Issues shortly began to spiral uncontrolled for Salford, who conceded a second penalty when Doku’s shot struck the arm of captain Curtis Tilt.

Doku this time despatched Younger the incorrect approach, and the keeper was overwhelmed once more when substitute Foden’s pushed ball was well-controlled and tucked away by McAtee.

McAtee accomplished his treble 9 minutes from time when he turned in a Grealish cross.

Participant of the match – James McAtee

Man Metropolis hat-trick hero James McAtee instructed the BBC: “I used to be fairly pissed off within the first half, wasn’t seeing a lot of the ball. When the primary one went in, my confidence was up and I saved scoring.

“I have been right here since I used to be 10 and it is a particular second for me. One thing I am going to bear in mind eternally. I do not assume I wanted to show myself however to get on the market and present folks what I can do, it is a good second for me.”

Guardiola: Grealish output will depend on him

Man Ciy boss Pep Guardiola instructed the BBC: “Jack [Grealish] made a superb help as effectively, not simply the purpose. He scored a purpose, made an help. Jack’s a particular participant, not at all times one to attain quite a lot of objectives however it will depend on him.

“If he can carry out effectively, he’ll take the chance to maintain going and going. All of the gamers rely upon the efficiency in coaching classes and once they have minutes to play. It is easy, not only for Jack, for all of them.

“I have been supervisor right here for greater than 500 video games and we have made an unimaginable 487 or 488 video games. Then we had 11, 12 or 13 unhealthy video games.

“The issue that we have had is that we have had an unimaginable quantity of accidents so we couldn’t prepare and we couldn’t compete. It is so troublesome however step-by-step, persons are coming again.

“This season or perhaps subsequent season, new gamers are available and you must battle in your place. When somebody pushes you, you will have competitors and also you give your finest.”

Robinson: A glimmer of what we need to be

Salford boss Karl Robinson instructed the BBC: “You at all times know you are on the mercy of the standard of the competitors.

“Man Metropolis and Pep have by no means disrespected anyone and so they confirmed us why they’re what they’re and why he’s who he’s. It is about dusting ourselves off, we have come on a lot in 12 months and to be the place we’re within the league.

“We now have one purpose and that’s to get out of this league. This can be a glimmer of what we need to be and we all know we have a lot to enhance and we all know the place we need to be.”

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