Pep Guardiola expressed concerns about his man city team's recent packed schedule, noting they played as if exhausted. The reigning english champions progressed past salford in a match guardiola succinctly described as "boring".

Man city played sluggishly, lacking pace, and nearly faced extra time. However, Marc Guehi's close-range shot in the 80th minute secured a 2-0 victory. This marked the england defender's first goal for the club he joined last month.

Guehi celebrates the winning goal against salford, at etihad stadium, manchester, england on 14/2. *Reuters*

Salford, a team with shareholders including David Beckham and Gary Neville, might have feared a repeat of their 8-0 annihilation at etihad in the fa cup 13 months ago. Their concerns intensified when Alfie Dorrington scored an own goal in the sixth minute, following a curling cross from Rayan Ait-Nouri. Despite this setback, the visitors gradually regained composure, while man city increasingly lacked ideas.

"The game was boring because we didn't read the spaces to exploit, taking too much time in ball distribution", coach Guardiola said after the match. "The only good news is that we advanced. Perhaps I didn't convey how to play more coherently".

Guardiola fielded an entirely different lineup compared to the one that defeated salford 8-0 13 months prior. Omar Marmoush started as a central striker due to Erling Haaland's absence from an injury sustained in the win against fulham. John Stones wore the captain's armband in his first appearance since early december, returning from a thigh issue.

Salford, currently 6th in the english fourth division despite losing two of their last three matches, created a few dangerous moments against man city. Josh Austerfield notably missed a shot when facing goalkeeper James Trafford.

Man city lacked sharpness and had only one clear chance for a second goal in the first half: a shot in the 23rd minute by Marmoush, which was disallowed for offside. Towards the end of the half, salford nearly ended their goal drought against higher-ranked opponents when Ben Woodburn's shot forced Trafford to push the ball over the bar. Immediately after, from a close-range corner kick, Brandon Cooper missed a golden opportunity to equalize, heading wide at the far post.

Guardiola's team rarely played so tamely, making changes inevitable. Phil Foden, Stones, and Ait-Nouri were substituted, making way for Antoine Semenyo, Guehi, and Nico O’Reilly.

Guardiola's adjustments proved effective when center-back Guehi surged forward late in the match, scoring his first goal after completing a 20 million GBP transfer. The england center-back was previously a member of crystal palace in their humiliating defeat to minnows macclesfield last month — one of the biggest shocks in the competition's history.