Silva’s golden slap in the face

PEP STARS FIND PERFECT KARANKA PUT DOWN

Manchester City’s manager left the Riverside just delighted to be on his way back to Wembley thanks to goals by David Silva and Sergio Aguero.

But this FA Cup quarter-final should have come with a health warning after Karanka’s men gave City the kind of kicking they won’t forget in a hurry.

When the Middlesbrough boss taunted Guardiola before the game by telling the Catalan that he isn’t even the best coach in Manchester, it would have been wise for him to come up with something a bit more imaginative than lumping long balls forward and hacking ankles.

Perhaps Karanka felt that the visitors wouldn’t fancy it, with a crucial trip to Monaco on Wednesday which gives Guardiola the opportunity to also take the Blues into the last eight of the Champions League.

But while referee Mike Dean allowed some of Boro’s players to get off the hook, City certainly didn’t.

Only an outstanding performance by stand-in keeper Brad Guzan saved the home side from getting the kind of beating that leaves mental scars.

“It was a physical game,” said Guardiola. “But when I arrived in England, all the English guys at the club told me not to talk about referees in the press conferences because I will be in trouble.

“So, for me, it is up to the referees to talk, not me.”

Grant Leadbitter could have been sent off before half-time, while former City midfielder Adam Clayton’s studs-up stamp on Raheem Sterling’s shin should have brought an instant red card rather than a theatrical shake of the head by Mr Dean.

But City found a much more effective way to put the boot in.

It took them three minutes to score the goal that gave them the basis to exert their dominance. Yaya Toure’s glorious pass found Pablo Zabaleta and although the Argentine’s volleyed cross was missed by Sterling, it wasn’t by Silva.

Rudi Gestede caused the visitors some uncomfortable moments and set up midfielder

It was physical ...but I won’t talk about ref PEP GUARDIOLA