Jesus shows no mercy with four goals as City book their Wembley spot

NIGEL CLOUGH had admitted in the build-up to this tie that Manchester City had the ability to “frighten” his players.

But the Burton boss could surely not have imagined anything quite as scary as this, with City running amok to book their place in next month’s final.

The Premier League champions showed no mercy to their League One visitors, executing a ruthless demolition of Clough’s side and rendering the second leg an irrelevance. By the time the ninth goal went in, with seven minutes still to go, home fans were chanting, “We want 10”.

At the end, Pep Guardiola and Clough embraced, the latter able to smile and share a joke with his opposite number, despite the agony he and his players had just been put through.

For Clough and Albion, the only shred of comfort on an otherwise chastening and humiliating night was that their hosts did not reach double figures.

Guardiola made four changes to the team that swatted aside Rotherham 7-0 in the FA Cup at the weekend, with Aro Muric in goal, defender Eric Garcia – who marked his 18th birthday with his debut – midfielder David Silva and winger Leroy Sane coming into the team.

Clough recalled Burton’s £500,000 record signing, Liam Boyce, one of three changes to the League One side, along with John Brayford and Kieran Wallace.

Having won the League Cup twice as a player, Clough was making his third appearance in the semi-finals as a manager.

But few gave the Brewers, who on the way to the last four had beaten Premier League Burnley, a chance of going through.

City are 51 places above them in the football pyramid and had a starting line-up that cost just shy of £300million. It looked a clear mismatch – and so it proved.

City took the lead and set the tone for an agonising night for Burton after just five minutes.

David Silva spotted Kevin De Bruyne’s run and slung in the perfect delivery for the £54m playmaker to nod in.

Burton should have drawn level in the 12th minute, with the only chance that came their way over the entire game.

Lucas Akins steered the ball across the City area and it fell to the unmarked Marcus MyersHarness, but his composure deserted him and he fired over.

City laid siege to the Burton