Such was the threat of one of the greatest FA Cup shocks, Pep Guardiola had called for Erling Haaland off the bench. Manchester City players were frantically retrieving balls from the side of the pitch when they had a corner.
There was a genuine sense that Plymouth Argyle could pull off the result of the lifetime, having led through Maksym Talovyerov then frustrating the Premier League champions into desperate substitutions and a panic not seen before their run of results this season where confidence has been sucked from players.
At this stage of the competition a year ago, City were still holders of their Treble and on course for the title - yet this shows how far this team has fallen. Nico O’Reilly’s two goals saved them from embarrassment, two headers from set-pieces before Haaland set-up Kevin De Bruyne for a third goal. Miron Muslic’s team, 23rd in the Championship, had given City a proper scare, as had Leyton Orient in the previous round.
Who would have thought on Mar 1 of the season that the FA Cup is the only silverware City are competing for, even if Guardiola believes finishing in the Champions League places would be the equivalent of a trophy. But the way they are playing, winning at Wembley on May 17 would be a shock on the scale of their defeat to Manchester United last season.
Even in this logic-defying season at City, losing to Plymouth would have represented one of the greatest FA Cup shocks. Only one division separated but the Devon club are a world away the Premier League champions, with the world’s best manager in the technical area. Next to him on the bench was Haaland.
As giantkillers of Liverpool in the previous round, Plymouth knew they needed to ride their luck and look to their goalkeeper and centre-backs to have the games of their lives. And so it proved for the first 45 minutes when they had their green-and-white barmy army noisily urging them to upset the odds.
“You’re only here for the Argyle,” they sang, although before their big moment came they would have to weather the storm. Muslic’s team flirted with conceding first with their all-or-nothing defending - and stayed on the right side of legality in the eyes of the referee.
Yes, there were complaints that Julio Pleguezuelo had used an arm when he blocked a cross. Nathan Ake also complained that Pleguezuelo grabbed a handful of his deadlocks while defending a corner. To keep City out they also needed their goalkeeper, Conor Hazard, in excellent form.
Hazard made a difficult save from Ilkay Gundogan look easy, while his flick around the post to deny De Bruyne was fit for the Premier League. When City found a way past him, Gundogan thudded a finish against the post.
Despite looking likely to be relegated to League One this season, Plymouth have plenty of talent through the spine of their team. Darko Gyabi, on loan from Leeds United, kept the ball well in central midfield, while Mustapha Bundu drew fouls up front on his own.
They looked to take advantage of Guardiola leaving the pace in his squad on the bench. As difficult Jack Grealish and Bernardo Silva are to play against, it is through guile rather than speed and Plymouth could sit back and flood their defence. Talovyerov and Nikola Katic, at centre-back, would throw themselves in front of anything that came into the penalty area.
When they took the lead, it was through a corner that was won with a swift counter-attack led by their smart winger Matthew Sorinola, once on the books at Fulham before a career that has taken him to Belgium and back to the EFL.
Sorinola swung in the corner and Talovyerov gave James McAtee a bit of rough-handling he would not be used to in the Premier League. Making a yard of room for himself, Talovyerov steered his header into the top corner of the net.
City’s response came in stoppage-time of the first half, with the creator being a familiar figure in De Bruyne, who can claim to be the king of the FA Cup in the last decade. Since his debut in the competition, nine years ago, no player has more goal involvements in the competition. His assist was his 18th in the Cup.
De Bruyne swung a free-kick over and O’Reilly headed into the bottom corner, his second of the season after finding the net against Salford City earlier in the competition.
With the tie in the balance, Guardiola made the decision to call for Haaland just before the hour mark - a sign that he smelt an upset in the air without his first-choice striker on the pitch.
Haaland blazed his first clear chance over the crossbar, then was denied by Hazard as the Plymouth keeper pulled off a stunning double-save to deny the Norwegian and Bernardo’s rebound. From the corner, O’Reilly headed in another. Plymouth felt he was pulling Jordan Houghton before heading in - but they had ridden their luck with decisions themselves before eventually falling behind.
08:14 PM GMT
Guardiola on De Bruyne
Maybe one of the best three to five players in this club’s history. Every time he performs well I’m the happiest man on the planet. He’s given many, many things to the team and to me, and he’s played really, really well today. Nobody knows [where he will be next season].
08:13 PM GMT
Guardiola on O’Reilly
It looks like our left-backs score our goals! He’s a different type of academy player. He’s a big presence and can play in three or four positions. I’m really happy for him, he helped us a lot.
08:09 PM GMT
Plymouth defender Maksym Talovierov on Ukraine
It’s around three and a half years since I’ve seen him [father]. We have really hard situation right now, but these few hours we have just to focus on the game and football helps us to forget it and for our warriors and supporters in Ukraine they try to watch and forget things. I’m really proud of them, hard situation but we will try to help our people and win this war as fast as possible.
08:06 PM GMT
Plymouth manager Muslic on taking cup form to the league
We gave Man City a game – a proper one. We created some problems for them and had a good defensive structure. It’s City, with the best players and definitely the best coach in the world, who will come up with some solutions.
This will give us a confidence boost. I have been here for eight or nine weeks and my first job was to stabilise the team. It should be hard work to play against Argyle, it should be uncomfortable for the opposition.
08:03 PM GMT
Guardiola speaking after the game
Big compliment for Plymouth for how they made out job so difficult. They were incredibly well organised but I think we played a really good game. We were fortunate to score on the edge of half time, but apart from the goal and one half chance we very very solid. Victor Reis was so present against the long balls.
07:51 PM GMT
Nico O’Reilly on Plymouth’s performance
They were a very good team. Very physical, direct, congratulations to them for getting this far.
We want to do our best to win and we’re into the quarter-finals.
07:48 PM GMT
The FA Cup quarter-finalists so far
Aston Villa
Preston North End
Crystal Palace
Bournemouth
Manchester City
Newcastle United vs Brighton, Manchester United vs Fulham and Nottingham Forst vs Ipswich Town to follow.
07:41 PM GMT
FT: Man City 3 Plymouth 1
A hard-fought win for City, but job done in the end. A great day for Nico O’Reilly, who looks another of those versatile, full-back-cum-midfielders Guardiola loves. De Bruyne has looked a shadow of himself lately but produced some classy moments in the second half. Plymouth now have a huge game at Hull in the Championship relegation battle on Tuesday. Muslic and his players receive a standing ovation from the away fans.
07:37 PM GMT
92 minutes: Man City 3 Plymouth 1
Just the five minutes of added time. Plymouth fans still in full voice and rightly so, this has been a highly creditable effort. City are playing with a far stronger squad than Liverpool did.
07:35 PM GMT
GOOOAALL! De Bruyne wraps up the tie
De Bruyne is typically the player crossing for Haaland, but it was roles reversed there. Clever ball across from the centre-forward and De Bruyne kept his run from midfield going to score a tap-in. Game over, City are heading into the quarter-finals.
07:34 PM GMT
90 minutes: Man City 2 Plymouth 1
Wright has been Plymouth’s best attacking player and he carved out a promising opening but Al Hajj could not get his shot off in the City penalty area. Ederson dribbles in his own box and plays a pass out.
07:33 PM GMT
88 minutes: Man City 2 Plymouth 1
Hazard spills a De Bruyne cross but Plymouth lead. Haaland then tries to play a one-two with Lewis, and there are some strong tackles flying in. Puchacz barreled into Rico Lewis and sent him flying.
07:29 PM GMT
85 minutes: Man City 2 Plymouth 1
Really sloppy from Man City. First Dias floated a square pass across his own half, before Ederon sent a pass straight of play for a Plymouth throw. City let the throw bounce in their own penalty dangerously but no Plymouth player could get the shot off.
07:27 PM GMT
82 minutes: Man City 2 Plymouth 1
City keeping the ball easily across the backline now, a spell of possession punctured by Talovierov catching Grealish with some studs on the achilles. Guardiola has made another change: Nico Gonzalez is on for Foden.
07:24 PM GMT
79 minutes: Man City 2 Plymouth 1
De Bruyne has gone through the gears in this second half, and City have looked more dangerous since Haaland’s introduction and Foden’s move into a deeper position. Given the trajectory of City’s season though and some of the daft mistakes made, they will want the third.
07:21 PM GMT
GOOOAAALL! City’s pressure tells, O’Reilly has his second
Three goals, all headers from set-pieces and the City teenager O’Reilly could well be there match-winner. He got away from Houghton at the back post from Foden’s corner and planted the header home. Plymouth’s players ask for a push but the goal stands after a VAR check.
07:20 PM GMT
76 minutes: Man City 1 Plymouth 1
What a save from Hazard! Plymouth hanging by a thread. Haaland picked out by another back post cross but the goalkeeper stuck out a left arm to make an improbable stop from point-blank range. Then Bernardo fired the rebound wide.
07:19 PM GMT
74 minutes: Man City 1 Plymouth 1
Rico Lewis with an another attempt, this one from 30 yards out on the volley. Sweet connection, but blocked by a green shirt. Then Talovierov slides in to win another meaty challenge at the expense of a corner.
City take another one short, and De Bruyne’s cross was delightful, it seemed to be begging for Haaland to score. Under pressure from Puchacz, the striker could not win the header cleanly. Checks for a penalty against Puchacz for handball but nothing doing.
07:15 PM GMT
72 minutes: Man City 1 Plymouth 1
Plymouth with another change: Ogbeta off, replaced by fellow wing-back Puchacz, who was one of Plymouth’s main outlets in the game against Liverpool.
07:14 PM GMT
69 minutes: Man City 1 Plymouth 1
Now Haaland misses a good chance from the corner that came from De Bruyne’s strike. Foden’s mishit shot fell for Haaland to turn and shoot on the swivel but his shot skimmed the top of the bar.
Haaland then threatens off the shoulder of Katic after Grealish’s up-and-under. Plymouth clear.
07:12 PM GMT
67 minutes: Man City 1 Plymouth 1
City starting to increase the temparture now, Plymouth have been fortunate that a couple of scuffed clearances have not dropped to a blue shirt. O’Reilly flies forward on the overlap, but Talovierov blocked the cross and celebrates with a first pump.
De Bruyne tries to catch out Hazard with a shot from a tight angle after a short corner and it needed a fingertip save.
07:09 PM GMT
65 minutes: Man City 1 Plymouth 1
Plymouth have made a triple sub: Baiddo, Houghton and Al Hajj are on, replacing Gyabi, Bundu and Mumba. When the whistle blew for half time you feared Plymouth might be out of this by this stage, but they remain in the contest.
07:06 PM GMT
62 minutes: Man City 1 Plymouth 1
Phil Foden goes for an ambitious curling shot from the corner of the box, and the ball was not far wide of the far post with Hazard beaten. For a few seconds, it looked like Plymouth striker Bundu was in but the flag went up for offside belatedly. He was miles off.
07:03 PM GMT
59 minutes: Man City 1 Plymouth 1
Here comes Haaland: he replaces McAtee, which means Foden drops into a more familiar attacking midfield postilion. Haaland against Katic and Talovierov promises to be an almighty physical battle.
07:02 PM GMT
57 minutes: Man City 1 Plymouth 1
Acrobatic volley from Rico Lewis flies over the bar. Impressive technique to meet the ball with a kung fu kick, but his attempt was always rising. Plymouth remains on level terms.
Then Lewis misses a better chance, although the flag went up for offside in any case. Clever pass from De Bruyne to release Grealish but the winger had strayed offside.
06:59 PM GMT
54 minutes: Man City 1 Plymouth 1
Ogbeta wins a foul up against Reis, and Plymouth goalkeeper Hazard kicks long. Plymouth continue to stick to their task and retain the structure Muslic has given them. The question will be whether they can keep up when City power up off the bench.
06:55 PM GMT
51 minutes: Man City 1 Plymouth 1
Bundu does well to back in and win a free-kick against Dias. City have the rare chance to break into space with Plymouth committed forward, and Gundogan slices through with a surging run. Picks out Bernardo with the pull-back but the finish was tame and Hazard saved.
06:52 PM GMT
48 minutes: Man City 1 Plymouth 1
City with a long spell of possession which ends with Grealish flashing a really dangerous cross through the Plymouth penalty area but there was no sky blue shirt there to convert. Erling Haaland is warming up on the touchline.
06:50 PM GMT
We are back under way
Within 30 seconds of the second half, Plymouth get the chance to send a throw into the box, but the referee blows his whistle for an offside.
06:49 PM GMT
Guardiola with a half-time change
Ruben Dias replaces Nathan Ake. Managing minutes between senior players.
06:34 PM GMT
HT: Man City 1 Plymouth 1
O’Reilly’s header will allay City fans’ worst fears, but it has been an unimpressive performance. I imagine Guardiola will be looking to his bench because for long periods Plymouth were comfortable defensively. Great effort again from the Championship side, but you sense they needed to keep the lead until half time.
06:33 PM GMT
GOOOAALLL! O’Reilly levels for City right on half time
A tale of two set-piece goals so far. De Bruyne whipped the free-kick into the unguarded near-post space and O’Reilly’s glancing header simply had too much power for Hazard. The Plymouth goalkeeper got a hand to it, but could not keep it out.
06:31 PM GMT
44 minutes: Man City 0 Plymouth 1
Magnificent save from Hazard! Fingertips to pluck De Bruyne’s low, left-footed strike around the far post. In the build-up, it was one of the first times in the game Plymouth lost the ball in a dangerous position. Ogbeta fouls McAtee, City will have a free-kick in a crossing position. Just one minute of added time approaching.
06:29 PM GMT
42 minutes: Man City 0 Plymouth 1
Can Plymouth survive to half-time? It is a crucial spell in the game if they are to make one of the great FA Cup shocks a realistic prospect. Plymouth are struggling with City’s corner deliver but once again Ake’s header flies. Too many City players with 50p-shaped heads in the Plymouth box.
06:27 PM GMT
40 minutes: Man City 0 Plymouth 1
That was Plymouth’s first corner of the game, but they are about to defend City’s ninth of the game. A heart in mouth moment for the fans in green, but Reis’ header whistled over the bar. “How s--- must you be, we’re winning away!” sing the travelling fans.
06:25 PM GMT
GOOOAALLL! Talovierov heads Plymouth into the lead
City’s defensive fragility on display again, bullied in their own box. It was all too easy for the big centre-back Talovierov to win the first contact and glance his header into the far corner. Katic was right behind him and could have scored instead. Brentford, Liverpool... Man City? What a Cup run.
06:23 PM GMT
36 minutes: Man City 0 Plymouth 0
Bundu enough of a presence to force Reis to run the ball out for a throw. Rico Lewis has struggled to influence the game in possession. Wright then whips a dangerous cross across the City box but Bundu was on his heels near the penalty spot. The Reis hooks another menacing delivery behind for a corner.
06:21 PM GMT
34 minutes: Man City 0 Plymouth 0
Plymouth trying to cause problems with the long throw again. Katic made a nuisance of himself at the near post but City clear. The Etihad is very quiet. Pleguezuelo slides in to prevent McAtee from shooting, and then Katic heads the ball back to his goalkeeper.
06:17 PM GMT
31 minutes: Man City 0 Plymouth 0
Bundu, Plymouth’s centre-forward, has struggled to get himself involved in the game, but nips in front of Gundogan to win a foul. That gives Hazard the chance to kick long from his own half.
Plymouth will be happy with the first quarter of the game - of normal time that is! City have had chances but Miron Muslic would have expected that. His centre-backs have started well and Conor Hazard has made a decent save. The Championship’s second-bottom team look like they will create a chance or two when they break forward.
06:15 PM GMT
28 minutes: Man City 0 Plymouth 0
Ilkay Gundogan hits the post! Grealish with a one-two to get to the byline for one of the first times in the game, and the cutback sat up nicely for Gundogan to hit on the run. Went for power with his left foot and the ball cannoned off the post to safety. That’s the closest City have come.
06:13 PM GMT
26 minutes: Man City 0 Plymouth 0
Nathan Ake threatens to meet a corner with a back-post header, but Plymouth survive. Then Plymouth work the ball well down their left flank but Ogbeta is flagged for offside. They perhaps missed a chance to switch play to Sorinola on the far side.
06:10 PM GMT
23 minutes: Man City 0 Plymouth 0
Plymouth with a couple of opportunities to send a long throw into the City box but they fail to win first contact. Then Wright injects some quality in their play with a fast-paced one-two at the edge of the box. Dilligent defending from De Bruyne to get himself between the Plymouth player on the ball. Then Pleguezuelo sweeps up well as Foden chased a long ball.
06:07 PM GMT
21 minutes: Man City 0 Plymouth 0
City continue to accumulate set-pieces deep in Plymouth territory but the visitors are standing firm and winning their defensive headers. Plymouth then try to play short from the back and they buy some time with a throw-in. The game is being played at tempo best described as sedate.
06:05 PM GMT
19 minutes: Man City 0 Plymouth 0
City’s best moment, attacking down the left and then finding Bernardo free wide right. He clipped a cross into the box with his left foot straight onto the head of Gundogan, but his effort was straight at the goalkeeper. Could not generate enough power.
06:03 PM GMT
17 minutes: Man City 0 Plymouth 0
Plymouth win a throw in the City half which gives them a chance to move up the pitch, and they enjoy their most sustained spell of possession. Their defenders get a breather for a few minutes. City’s weight of pass has been suboptimal so far.
06:00 PM GMT
13 minutes: Man City 0 Plymouth 0
Vociferous appeals for a handball penalty against Pleguezuelo. The ball did strike his arm but it was from close quarters and he did not move towards the ball. Correct decision but City are just starting to turn the screw.
05:58 PM GMT
11 minutes: Man City 0 Plymouth 0
Slicker football from City, De Bruyne whipping a pass into Foden’s feet and he looked for the one-two with Grealish. The ball flicked off Katic’s heel and behind for a corner. Plymouth fall asleep from the corner, leaving Grealish in acres in the box, but his shot was blocked. Another low delivery causes a problem but Foden dragged a shot wide with the help of a Talovierov deflection.
05:55 PM GMT
9 minutes: Man City 0 Plymouth 0
Guardiola is trying to flood the narrow gulley of space between Plymouth’s defence and midfield, with De Bruyne, Foden and McAtee all in there. Plymouth have looked pretty solid so far, City are yet to get to the byline. De Bruyne’s cross is far too heavy and drifts behind for a goal kick.
“You’re only here for the Argyle” sing the away fans, who are making a decent noise at the Etihad Stadium.
City start with a flat-back four but when they get the ball Rico Lewis moves into midfield and they resemble a 3-2-5: it is all improvisation up top.
05:53 PM GMT
6 minutes: Man City 0 Plymouth 0
Gundogan’s pass towards De Bruyne is overhit and Plymouth have a goal kick. “F-----g useless” is the tune from the away end. Two of the best midfielders we have seen in the Premier League over the last decade, but both would struggle to get into City’s strongest team at this stage of their career.
05:51 PM GMT
4 minutes: Man City 0 Plymouth 0
City’s first threatening foray into the Plymouth penalty area with Bernardo and De Bruyne combining in tight spaces before Grealish sees a shot blocked. Sorinola then does well to win a throw in for Plymouth. Pleguezuelo, who came through the ranks at Arsenal, then shows good composure to buy a foul. “You’re only here for the Argyle!” is the chant from the away fans.
05:49 PM GMT
2 minutes: Man City 0 Plymouth 0
City’s defenders stroking the ball around in front of Plymouth’s defensive shape, which is a 5-2-3 when they are higher but will collapse into a 5-4-1 in their own half. Bernardo and Grealish are City’s two wingers, as expected Foden is the nominal centre-forward.
05:47 PM GMT
KICK OFF!
Manchester City get the game under way.
05:45 PM GMT
Rodri gets a touch of the ball at the Etihad again
05:44 PM GMT
The players are in the tunnel
Both teams in their home colours, which is pleasing. Go and get the Tiger Balm ready: these Plymouth players are about to get through an awful lot of running (other ointments for muscle pain are available).
05:17 PM GMT
Guardiola on facing Championship opponents
Huge respect, could not be otherwise. FA Cup is always difficult to surprise us, look how tight the games have been but we have the chance to arrive in the quarter-finals. Always in my nine years here we behave incredibly well against lower division teams, taking the game seriously. Or else we would not progress so often in the FA Cup.
05:08 PM GMT
Plymouth manager Muslic speaking before the game
The challenge cannot get bigger, playing the next giant of English football. It’s a huge privilege to be here and face Manchester City in this stadium and to have the green wall over there, more than 8,000 of our fans.
There are going to be a lot of moments when we have to enjoy defending but we also need to give the players a structure where they can enjoy defending. This is what we did against Liverpool.
Nothing but respect for them, but I want my team to be brave. Man City will try everything to make it extremely difficult for us. On one side we need to be organised, but we cannot simply defend the whole time.
05:01 PM GMT
A look at the team news
Just the 11 changes from Guardiola but it is still a strong City team. With Haaland and Marmoush on the bench, who plays up front? By the look of the team sheet it will be Phil Foden. No Adam Randell for Plymouth, but Muslic was quite frank about viewing Tuesday night’s game against Hull as the priority.
04:51 PM GMT
Plymouth team and subs
04:46 PM GMT
Man City team and subs
Lining up for City! ????????
XI | Ortega Moreno, Lewis, Reis, Ake, O'Reilly, Gundogan, De Bruyne (C), McAtee, Bernardo, Grealish, Foden
SUBS | Ederson, Dias, Marmoush, Haaland, Doku, Nico, Gvardiol, Savinho, Nunes#ManCity | @etihad pic.twitter.com/AkyVBvkyXK
— Manchester City (@ManCity) March 1, 2025
04:39 PM GMT
Guardiola on his use of Grealish who is a doubt
Listen, Jack played at (Leyton) Orient and was really good, then played against Madrid afterwards.
Madrid is not a friendly, right. After 20 minutes he was out, injured. It has happened this season.
The reason Jack didn’t play much was because he was not able. He had niggles and problems.
There is no question mark about his quality - I’ve never ever doubted the quality Jack has - but because of problems he has not played three games in a row.
He played well against Nottingham Forest then afterwards didn’t play and in a training session was injured again.
Not big issues but he could not make a big effort and sprint again and again and again. This is the only question mark, not any other question mark.
04:32 PM GMT
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04:30 PM GMT
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04:28 PM GMT
Unlike Liverpool, Man City have full focus on FA Cup
The FA Cup is Manchester City’s one remaining shot at silverware this season and the draw has offered welcome respite in an arduous campaign. Following wins over Salford City and Leyton Orient, City host Championship Plymouth Argyle who earned their place in the fifth round with a monumental upset against Liverpool.
Arne Slot made wholesale changes for that game, but Plymouth delivered an outstanding team performance with defenders Maksym Talovierov and Nikola Katic especially commanding. Conor Hazard made two crucial saves late on and he is likely to be busy again today. Wing-back Matthew Sorinola was cramping so badly he could hardly walk in the closing stages against Liverpool, but soldiered on. Staying compact and competitive on a tighter and bumpier Home Park pitch is easier than defending the open spaces of the Etihad’s billiard table.
While Plymouth manager Miron Muslic has said it will be an honour to pick his wits against Pep Guardiola, his side also have a key league fixture against Hull City to come on Tuesday. Hull are the team one place above the relegation zone, and Plymouth can draw level on points with a win.
”I’ve not only half an eye, I have both eyes on Hull City,” Muslic said.
”We will try again to manage and find the right balance between having this beautiful adventure in front of us, like Liverpool and now City, and finding the right balance to be super competitive just three nights later against Hull.
”We as staff have found a good way to manage this and to rebalance the team after Liverpool to face Millwall, and I think we will need the same approach again, but in terms of the importance of the games Hull is way more important for us.”
Guardiola made a point of emphasising the youth of City’s team at Spurs on Wednesday, and this looks another presentable chance for City fans to get a look at the next generation. Unlike Liverpool, City do not have bigger fish to fry this season so that could make for a long evening for Plymouth.
Full team news on the way shortly.
