Man City 8-0 Salford: James McAtee nets hat-trick as Jack Grealish ends wait in FA Cup hammering | OneFootball

Salford put to the sword as City continued their return to form

James McAtee scored a hat-trick and Jack Grealish netted his first goal in more than a year as Manchester City thrashed Salford 8-0 in the FA Cup third round.

That spot-kick made it 4-0, with Pep Guardiola’s side already firmly in control by the break. Jeremy Doku curled the hosts into an early lead, before Divin Mubama tapped in from a couple of yards out on debut and Nico O'Reilly also got in on the fun.

Grealish’s penalty set the tone for the second-half inside four minutes and it became a question of just how ruthless City were feeling.

There was little sign of them easing up, as James McAtee produced a smart finish at the near post and Doku then added his second of the night, rolling a penalty into the bottom corner after his shot had been charged down by the arm of Curtis Tilt.

Six became seven just a few minutes later, as Foden’s scuffed shot fell perfectly into the path of McAtee to take a touch and slot in to double his own tally.

There was still plenty of time for him to seal the match ball and cap a perfect afternoon for the hosts, when Grealish played a low cross into the middle and McAtee slid in to complete a 19-minute hat-trick.

City made nine changes from the side that overran West Ham last weekend and took the opportunity to hand a debut to 20-year-old Mubama and further experience to 19-year-olds O'Reilly and Jahmai Simpson-Pusey.

Simpson-Pusey was one of only two specialist defenders in the side along with the experienced Nathan Ake but, with a bench stacked with quality, Pep Guardiola had plenty of insurance should things have gone wrong.

Yet the likes of Erling Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden needed only to look on as City quickly established control.

The hosts took the lead after only eight minutes as Matheus Nunes seized possession and fed Grealish, who played the ball wide for Doku to sweep past Matty Young from a tight angle.

The second came after 20 minutes as Savinho played in Nunes and he pulled back for Mubama to slide in for a simple finish.

Salford had chances to reply as City eased off the pressure, with Kylian Kouassi shooting at Ederson after a good run and later fluffing a shot from an excellent cross by Hakeeb Adelakun.

Kevin Berkoe also snatched at an effort but City simply moved up through the gears in response.

Doku weaved his way to the byline and O'Reilly firmly drove home his first senior goal before the break.

Grealish, without a goal in club football since December 2023, got back on the scoresheet four minutes after the break.

The England international might have scored from open play after Mubama raced onto a poor backpass to set him up, but he made no mistake from the spot after being felled by Ossama Ashley.

City's fifth came from a fluid move soon after as Nunes released Doku and his first-time cross was deftly guided in by McAtee.

Things quickly started to spiral out of control for Salford, who conceded a second penalty when Doku's shot struck the arm of captain Curtis Tilt.

Doku this time sent Young the wrong way, and the keeper was beaten again when substitute Foden's driven ball was well controlled and tucked away by McAtee.

McAtee completed his treble nine minutes from time when he turned in a Grealish cross.