On this day (10 February) in 2021 Manchester City travelled to Swansea for a FA Cup tie. It was another record-breaking day for Pep Guadiola’s team.
City defeated Swansea 3-1 to progress to the quarter-finals but the victory set a record for successive domestic wins by an English top-flight club, surpassing the previous best of 14 achieved by Preston in 1891-92 and Arsenal in 1987-88. Talking about City’s 15th consecutive win Guardiola commented: ‘It shows how special these players are. And we think of the next one. I know we broke a record of all-time. To do what we have done so far is quite remarkable. The record will be broken for sure, because sports is like this, but it means a lot, to do what we have done in the winter time and Christmas time is quite remarkable. It is the toughest time, but what is important is the way we are still playing with our consistency.’
City’s goals were scored by Kyle Walker (30 mins), Raheem Sterling (47) and Gabriel Jesus (50), with Morgan Whittaker (77) scoring a late consolation goal for Swansea at the Liberty Stadium.
On 30 January 2011 Manchester City travelled to Notts County in the FA Cup. Roberto Mancini’s Blues went behind (59thminute) but new signing Edin Dzeko lifted spirits with his first goal in the competition. With only ten minutes left Micah Richards pushed forward on the right then crossed wonderfully for Dzeko, who volleyed into the roof of the net from close range.
Further opportunities followed but the game ended 1-1. There had been intense media focus on the tie – billed as England’s oldest club against the world’s wealthiest (neither description accurate) by some media outlets – this had been put forward as a day when a football shock could occur, especially as the playing surface was poor following rugby games played on it. Ultimately, Dzeko’s goal avoided any embarrassment and allowed the game to go to a replay in what was to become a trophy winning season.
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Here’s film of the FA Cup 4th round tie from this day (29 January) in 1955 when Manchester City defeated Manchester United 2-0. Joe Hayes and Don Revie were the City scorers. Enjoy: https://www.britishpathe.com/asset/59278/
This series on Manchester City in the 1950s includes free items and items only available to subscribers. If you’d like to find out more on the 1954-55 season then subscribe and read the following 3,400 word article on it. It’s a season when City reached the FA Cup final and Don Revie was FWA Footballer of the Year.
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For the second successive FA Cup game there was a controversial head-butting incident involving Dennis Tueart fifty years ago today (28 January 1976). If you’d like to know what happened and its significance read the following subscriber feature:
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There’s also the following 5,320 word article on the entire 1975-76 season – a season which saw Tony Book guide the club to major success. You can read this below. You could even subscribe for a month and see what you think. Enjoy!
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Read more of this content when you subscribe today. It costs £3 per month (above) or £20 a year (here) to access everything posted since the site was created in December 2020. This special rate works out about £1.67 a week and gives access to everything posted, including PDFs of 3 of my books.
If you enjoy all the free material on my website and would like to support my research and keep this website going (but don’t want to subscribe) then why not make a one-time donation (or buy me a coffee). All support for my research is valued and welcome. It allows me to keep some free material available for all. Thanks.
On 27 January 2002 Manchester City’s fourth round FA Cup tie at Ipswich saw Kevin Keegan’s side thrill live on TV. City impressed the nation with their spectacular 4-1 fourth round cup demolition of Premier League side Ipswich Town. It is worth remembering that City were in the second tier at the time, hoping for promotion. Many of us felt that the Blues were not only good enough to find success in the League but also stood a genuine chance of FA Cup success (mind you, some of us felt that every season – nine years later it finally happened!).
The City scorers against Ipswich were Eyal Berkovic, Shaun Goater (2) and Darren Huckerby.
After the Ipswich match Keegan said: “Our fans know we can play but I think we showed the rest of the country that we are a good team. I believe the FA Cup needed a game like our tie with Ipswich where the atmosphere was tremendous and both sides picked their strongest available sides and really set out to win.”
In the fifth round, Keegan’s Blues travelled to Newcastle for another thrilling performance against the manager’s old club. The media hype focused on Keegan, but the match ended with national recognition that the Blues were clearly a force. Although City lost the match 1-0 after Richard Dunne had been sent off, the general view was that ten-man City were more than a match for the Geordies. City impressed the nation once again.
The Newcastle tie, like the Ipswich game, came at a time when many were questioning the status of the FA Cup. City’s performance in both ties were seen as major boosts for the competition. According to Henry Winter of the Daily Telegraph: “Keegan returned with his magnificent Manchester City side whose spirited, defiant football sent the heart rate soaring among Newcastle’s nervy support. Making light of Richard Dunne’s dismissal and Nolberto Solano’s goal, City scared the black-and-white life out of those who still cherish Keegan’s name. Shaun Wright-Phillips was marvellous, Eyal Berkovic and Kevin Horlock not far behind with outstanding displays as City narrowly lost a Cup-tie but won countless admirers. If they build on this, they will surely keep the Blue Moon rising and head back to the Premiership, where their noisy supporters belong.”
Manchester City’s owner Sheikh Mansour has bought the oldest surviving FA Cup trophy at auction. The trophy, which was the first major trophy won by Bury, City and United, will be on display at the National Football Museum. To understand more of that trophy’s significance to Manchester check out my earlier posts:
On this day (26 January) in 1946 a comfortable 3-1 victory for Manchester City over Bradford Park Avenue in the fourth round of the FA Cup seemed certain to put the Blues through to the fifth round. Goals from George Smith 2 and Alec Herd. However, this first season of FA Cup football after the war saw games played on a home and away basis and the Blues had to face Bradford again a few days later.
Due to the general downward trajectory of Manchester City during the late 1990s the 1996-97 season often gets overlooked but it is important to remember that, even in the darkest of seasons, there can be positive moments, experiences and wonderful performances by talented players. Even at the bleakest of times a young fan may be experiencing their club for the first time and, no doubt, in 1996-97 the magic of watching Manchester City for the first time was experienced by Blues who, as adults today have enjoyed some of the greatest football ever seen. Today (25 January) is the anniversary of one positive moment in the dreadful 1996-97 season: City’s FA Cup victory over Brentford. Nicky Summerbee scored the only goal of that away game. Were you there? Any memories to share? You can read about that game and the season’s FA Cup run below.
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On this day (24 January) 1981 John Bond’s Manchester City defeated his former club Norwich 6-0 in the FA Cup fourth round tie. Subscribers can read a report and watch highlights here:
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There’s a wonderful film of Manchester City’s 2-0 victory over Chelsea in the FA Cup on 24 January 1948 which really needs to be seen. I’d urge everyone to watch this, even if it’s just for Frank Swift’s reaction to a decision. You’ll also see some wonderful coverage of Maine Road too. The film can be seen here: https://www.britishpathe.com/asset/84094/
The City scorers were Billy Linacre and George Smith.
If you’d like to find out more on the 1947-48 season then the following 1000 word subscriber article can be read by subscribing below.
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A break from the Premier League saw Manchester City face League Two’s Cheltenham Town in the FA Cup on 23 January 2021. It was the first time the teams had met competitively, and it was a real shame that Covid restrictions meant that fans could not attend this away game for the Blues.
Cheltenham took a 1-0 lead in the 59th minute through Alfie May. A long throw in was followed by Cheltenham’s Charlie Ragland and Will Boyle helping the ball on, before May reacted and poked it home. It was a bit of a jolt to the system, especially as there had been several opportunities for City to take the lead, but the Blues remained resolute. Tactical changes followed and then Joao Cancelo laid the ball on for Phil Foden, who levelled after 81 minutes. Three minutes later Gabriel Jesus scored after a pass from Fernandinho and City were in total control.
Four minutes into added time Ferran Torres made it 3-1, setting the Blues up with a fifth-round trip to Swansea.
Pep Guardiola felt City were always going to win through and when questioned about team selections and formations post-match he commented: ‘I didn’t have regrets even when we were 1-0 down, we had clear chances from the first minute… When they take advantage it gets complicated, but we got it to 1-1 and it was tight. We came here with humility and had the quality to make the difference.’
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