Manchester City 3-0 Birmingham: Winning run continues

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JANUARY 10: Rodri of Manchester City is challenged by Maxime Colin of Birmingham City during the FA Cup Third Round match between Manchester City and Birmingham City at Etihad Stadium on January 10, 2021 in Manchester, England. Sporting stadiums around England remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JANUARY 10: Rodri of Manchester City is challenged by Maxime Colin of Birmingham City during the FA Cup Third Round match between Manchester City and Birmingham City at Etihad Stadium on January 10, 2021 in Manchester, England. Sporting stadiums around England remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

Manchester City continued their excellent form of late with as they made light work of Birmingham in the FA Cup Third Round.

Manchester City struck early and often, scoring three within the first 33 minutes to easily beat Birmingham City in the FA Cup Third Round and progress in the competition. After some solid performances without a goal or assist, Bernardo Silva’s end product exploded into life, as he managed a brace within 15 minutes in an excellent performance. In the end, the result was expected, but games are not won on paper.

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City played some excellent football, holding 75% of the ball against the Championship side, who failed to really pose a challenge for arguably England’s most in-form team at the moment. This is the type of performance we have come to expect from Pep Guardiola’s City teams, and although the level of opposition is certainly a factor, this is a further confidence boost that this team has what it takes to win major trophies after a disastrous start to the Premier League campaign.

Several younger players got an opportunity off of the bench courtesy of the five-substitution rule present in the FA Cup. The result may have already been decided when they came on, but these will prove to be valuable minutes for Felix Nmecha, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, and Liam Delap.

In the end, City achieved what was expected, but they did it in style, with some slick football and plenty of goals. With a promising run of fixtures coming up, this is a real chance for City to stake their claim as true Premier League title contenders and make their presence felt toward the top of the table.