Foden Shines As Manchester City Ease Past Newport County

As Manchester City fans we all knew in advance exactly what kind of match this was likely to be. We expected this would be a drudge into the next round at best, and it was.

From the kick off Manchester City were acutely aware that there was very little grass on the pitch and that the mud had been painted green. The ball did not move at ground level, it bobbled like a drunken animal. Whilst this had no bearing on the Newport game plane, which was all about knock downs and second balls, it rendered our expensive ball players strangely redundant.

The stand out moment in the first half was brought to us by Ederson and unusually it did not involve his passing ability. Ederson somehow turned a clear header around the post from point blank range. Make no mistake this was a save which was important to the outcome of the whole match.

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The first half petered out in a flurry as Manchester City failed to click into any kind of gear. All of our players were out there but they were playing like second rate impersonators. The second half started in much the same way and it was almost a surprise when City took the lead. Leroy Sane was released on the left and unleashed a fearsome shot from a tight angle which the keeper tried to save with his nose. The ball spun into the goal and from that point on things were different.

It was almost as though someone had flicked a switch in the Newport player’s heads. They were almost relieved to be a goal down. Strangely the pressure was off. Expectation was lifted. Foden stepped into action and began to exert himself just as the Newport players seemed to tire.

Foden struck twice to really seal this game. Both times the Newport keeper could perhaps have done better. Whether these strikes announced his arrival or not I am not sure but Foden probably did enough to be trusted in a bigger game. I expect he will start the Carabao Cup Final next week at the very least.

In between the Foden goals Amond struck for Newport following a loose header from Laporte. This was a well taken goal but it only proved that we are often at our most dangerous at the point we have conceded. in the dying moments mahrez scored to make the scoreline flatter the City performance. This was well taken, a strike on the left hand side which was hit well. Mahrez though needs to have this kind of goal in a game against better opposition which sits on a knife edge.

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So all in all this was a professional performance by Manchester City and we march onwards in four competitions. The Premier League derby game will have to be rearranged now but the chance to reclaim the FA Cup is too great to pass over.

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