JESUS SAVES PEP’S CHELTENHAM GOLD
cheltenham ............ 1 Manchester city ... 3
MANCHESTER CITY were heading for serious FA Cup humiliation until a late treble rescued them at the death. On a day when there had been no fourth-round shocks, League Two Cheltenham looked to have changed all that when hitman Alfie May struck in the 58th minute.
But with just 10 minutes left in a pulsating tie, Phil Foden levelled before Gabriel Jesus and Ferran Torres broke the hearts of Michael Duff’s minnows with late efforts.
Duff said: “I’m super proud of the players. I said before the game we wanted to try to affect the game in a positive way.
“I don’t think we deserved (to concede) the third, that’s harsh on the lads, but that’s what they do to teams – they are world-class players.
“The clock turned to 80 minutes and we were still 1-0 up, and you start thinking ‘could you?’ But unfortunately it wasn’t to be.”
Regarding the importance of the cup run, Duff said: “I think it’s essential.
“There’s no money coming in. So every pound coming in is probably worth 10 or 11 in normal times.
“I’m delighted for the club. Obviously it’s a shame because (with fans) the place would’ve been bouncing.would that have seen us through in the last 10 minutes? I’m not so sure. But the players deserve every bit of credit.”
City boss Pep Guardiola was breathing a huge sigh of relief – and his lucky top-flight stars are still in the hunt for a second domestic Treble in three years.
After such an uncharacteristic slow start to the campaign, which had many dismissing them as possible Premier League champions, City have been in overdrive.
So much so that they arrived at the Jonny-rocks stadium looking to make it a terrific 10 victories in a row in all competitions.
But it was Cheltenham who had the early impetus as City’s shuffled pack – Guardiola made 10 changes – took time to settle. Once they did, they were a threat and only an amazing headed goalline clearance from Ben Tozer denied Benjamin Mendy’s 10th-minute rocket.
Then home keeper Joe Griffiths reacted sharply to save from Torres following Foden’s centre.
When Fernandinho went close with a 25-yard piledriver, that sparked the locals to hold a fiveminute firework display outside.
Referee Stuart Atwell halted the action and when the tie resumed Cheltenham unveiled their secret weapon – Tozer’s missile-like
throw-in. It amounted to nothing but was yet another warning that City’s stars could ill afford to relax as they went in at half-time goalless.
Guardiola’s words at the interval did inject some much-needed life into his side.yet when Foden set up Jesus, the inconsistent City man was unable to keep his effort on target.
And how they were made to pay the price as in the 58th minute Cheltenham grabbed the lead.
It came via a Tozer throw which Aymeric Laporte failed to deal with, allowing May to nip in for his seventh goal in seven cup games.
For 20 minutes Cheltenham clung on and were dreaming of a fifthround clash at Swansea. But City’s best player, Foden, had other ideas as he stole in unmarked to volley home on 80 minutes.
Jesus finally put City ahead with six minutes left before Torres added a third in injury time.