Manchester City progressed to the fourth round of the FA Cup with an 8-0 win over League Two Salford City on Saturday.

Salford-born James McAtee grabbed a second-half hat-trick on a memorable night for the youngster as Pep Guardiola’s side avoided a major upset at the Etihad.

Strikes from Jeremy Doku and Nico O’Reilly either side of Devin Mubame’s debut goal put City in a commanding position in the first half, while Jack Grealish and the excellent Doku’s penalty after the break, as well as goals from McAtee, completed the game. Rout

The game was given an extra layer of spice by the fact that members of Manchester United’s ‘Class of ’92’ are co-owners of the fourth-tier club. But it was not a memorable win for the visitors as City dominated from the start.

An impressive scoreline will boost confidence for Guardiola and his team, who have made a promising start to 2025 with three straight wins.

Full time | 🎩 in a hat

🩵 8-0 🔴 #mancity | @okx pic.twitter.com/uVvzcCGHIs

— Manchester City (@ManCity) January 11, 2025

How the action unfolded

It took less than eight minutes for City to take the lead. Salford lost the ball in the middle of the pitch, Mathias Nunes fed Jack Grealish who in turn played in Doku who finished in the far corner of the net.

The five or so thousand traveling supporters remained in good voice despite their team falling behind early and having just 18% possession in the opening quarter of an hour.

Kylian Cousin then hacked the ball clear as Nathan Ake’s goal bound header was missed on the line by Jahmai Simpson-Pusey.

Five minutes later, City doubled their lead when 20-year-old debutant Mubama finished off a smart move from the hosts.

Savinho’s pass found the underlapping Nunes, who squared the ball to Mubame to tap in.

A special moment for Dwin Mbama when he made his Man City debut with a goal! 🩵#MCISAL #BBCfootball pic.twitter.com/K8mi3ITW4c

– BBC Sport (@BBCSport) January 11, 2025

Kouassi then saved from Ederson after a mazy run but it was the Premier League champions who were in control.

The young Salford forward was again at the center of the action when a neat set-piece move resulted in a ball into the box that the 21-year-old should have done better.

This miss ultimately proved costly. Moments later City extended their lead to three when the excellent Doku beat his man to O’Reilly, who confidently swept the ball home.

Two minutes after the restart, Salford were the architects of their own downfall when captain Curtis Tilt pounced on an under-hit backpass by Mubama, who laid the ball back to Grealish.

But before the England international could get his shot away, he was brought down by Osama Ashley. Grealish picked himself up and dispatched the subsequent spot-kick for his first of the season and City’s fourth.

McAtee made it five just after the hour mark with a fine finish from Docu’s pinpoint cross. Doku then helped himself to a second as he slotted home from the spot when the ball was adjudged to have hit Tilt’s arm.

Neat finish from James McAtee 👌#MCISAL #BBCfootball pic.twitter.com/LnNwiBDhBC

– BBC Sport (@BBCSport) January 11, 2025

McAtee added another goal after a fine pass from Phil Foden before completing his hat-trick to heap more misery on the League Two outfit.

Salford had two half-chances and gave 16-year-old Will Wright a five-minute run-out. But City saw out the remainder of the contest largely unsatisfied.