That was ... straightforward. City struck early and never really looked like suffering after that – not in a footballing sense anyway. Guardiola is less than happy as the players go off, having strong words with Mason and gesticulating a lot. Some of the challenges from Cardiff, particularly that of Bennett on Sane, clearly irked him and that appears to have been the point he was making.
Hopefully Sane, withdrawn at the break, is OK. That aside, not too much to hang on from this one – a lovely goal from De Bruyne and encouraging display from Bernardo Silva, who had one of his own sketchily ruled out, are perhaps what City fans will enjoy most from this. Onwards and upwards for both these teams, and cheerio – until Barcelona v Alaves later – from me.
Updated
Full-time: Cardiff 0-2 Man City
Into the fifth-round hat City go!
Updated
Red card
90+2 min: Bennett is sent off, an hour or so too late, after a poor, poor tackle on Diaz. Two yellows, no complaints, he’s down the tunnel like lightning. What was the need?
Updated
90+1 min: Sterling rolls back to Aguero, who leans back and scoops well over from 16 yards and thus probably won’t get a goal today. We’ll have three extra minutes.
90 min: The Cardiff fans are chanting “Every little thing ... is going to be alright”. And perhaps it will. It’s very hard to gauge, from this, their promotion potential but the league table says plenty and they have produced a few sparky moments here.
89 min: Off comes the impressive Silva, on comes young Brahim Diaz for his sixth appearance.
88 min: Etheridge is called upon again, saving very well from an onrushing Danilo. Then Cardiff replace Ralls with Damour. City have a couple of corners straight afterwards, but to no consequence.
86 min: “Give me Liverpool’s red hot mess over this functionality any day,” writes Alex of the way City have killed this one stone dead. I know what you mean but City have, more often than not, gone for the throat this season. Today, I agree, it has been a pretty long and featureless second half ... almost livened up by Bravo as I speak, the goalkeeper coolly pivoting and dribbling past two onrushing Cardiff forwards.
84 min: Feeney looks lively but can’t quite wriggle away a second time. Paterson gets the chance to hurl in a long throw, though, and it goes through one line of defence before Walker hacks away. Now it’s more like the first half as City break rapidly, space opening up for Silva and a goal looking more than likely – but Silva’s shot is weak and Etheridge saves with few issues.
81 min: Feeney gets to the line, Paterson attacks a delicately chipped cross, but heads well over. Good wing play though.
Updated
80 min: Grujic does well to win the ball from Gundogan and can break ... but no he can’t as Fernandinho takes him out and is rightly booked. Paterson exchanges a few choice words with the offender, for some reason, and the crowd sing his name.
78 min: Mendez Laing is replaced by Liam Feeney. Aguero seems to be OK.
77 min: Now Aguero has caught a nasty one from Manga, who is booked, and the physios are on. It was more clumsy, on the follow-through, than Bennett-grade I think.
75 min: Now De Bruyne shows again with a quite *staggeringly* good ball around the defence to Sterling, who is through again but denied by Etheridge – who was again out sharply.
74 min: De Bruyne sashays in from the left but Manga is in the way of his meaty drive.
72 min: Now Cardiff win a flag kick, their first, and this is definitely their best spell. Morrison challenges at the back stick and there are plaintive cries for handball against Walker but all they get is another corner, swiped away by Sterling.
70 min: City win a corner, eventually, after a long and complicated run by Aguero. It comes to nothing. They haven’t threatened all that much since the break, bar that skip around Etheridge by Sterling.
Hey, @CardiffCityFC. Just letting you know, we have a really important tournament in the summer. Please don't hurt our players. Thanks, #DieMannschaft 🙏 #inSane
— Germany (@DFB_Team_EN) January 28, 2018
Twitter banter.
68 min: Cardiff are still having a go – now Hoilett surges inside, shoots from the corner of the box and .... ohhhh ... it’s just over! It looked for a moment as if it was flying in, and Bravo was beaten!
68 min: And within 10 seconds Pilkington has a sight of goal! Ralls heads down a free-kick and he gets a snap shot away on the corner of the six-yard box, only to send it too high. I think it may actually have caught a slight deflection.
67 min: “One measure of City’s dominance is that they’ve looked wholly in control without Kevin De Bruyne being especially visible – if anything, having less touches in midfield than Gundogan or Fernandinho,” writes Charles Antaki. “In fact if he were to have any less to do he’d be out there in an armchair with the proverbial cup of tea.”
Zohore, meantime, is replaced by Anthony Pilkington.
Updated
65 min: Nearly some much-needed interest from Zohore, who beats a challenge but shoots too close to Bravo, who gathers low to his left.
64 min: BREAKING – Cardiff touch the ball after roughly three consecutive minute of City keepball.
64 min: You aren’t missing a lot, it’s walking-pace stuff.
61 min: City are just playing this as they wish now. They do, of course, face an improving West Brom at home on Wednesday. If they really want to score more here they probably will, but they seem quite chilled out.
58 min: Now Zohore catches Otamendi, who reacts as if hit by a sniper, a little late as he moves the ball on. Mason has a quick word.
56 min: And Zohore has a chance now, as Cardiff overload from an Etheridge diagonal to the left and it’s flicked on to the striker, steaming in on the left edge of the area! But his touch makes the ball sit up and, although he still gets a shot away as it comes down, Otamendi has recovered to put him off and he sends it over the top.
53 min: Brilliant defending from Morrison! Grujic concedes a free kick in the centre circle and it’s taken quickly, sending Sterling scampering in behind. Etheridge comes dashing out and, although Sterling gets round him, does enough just to check the forward’s momentum – meaning Morrison can steam in and save the day with an empty net beckoning!
Updated
52 min: Aguero carries the ball a long way into the box and feeds Silva, who can’t *quite* manufacture the sight of goal from which he would surely score and is crowded out well.
50 min: De Bruyne makes a slightly naughty challenge of his own on Richards, raking his studs down his thigh, but I think it was more of an inadvertent follow through.
49 min: “Switching between disbelief and bemusement at the sight of Callum Paterson playing as an advanced CM. Last time I saw him he was plying his trade as a RB at Hearts,” writes “Alex”. We’ll have time for more observations like this, I fancy, if anyone wants to send them in.
47 min: It’s a quiet start to what I expect to be a quiet half. Prove me wrong!
Peeeeep – we are back underway
Guardiola is having a *lot* to say to the fourth official as we begin. Lee Mason is laughing at something hilarious Aguero said. Perhaps it was “Could you make sure nobody gets away with a potentially season-ending challenge on me in the next 45 minutes?”
Updated
Half-time change for City – Aguero is on for Sane, and that’s hopefully a precaution.
Sandile Xaso agrees: “How many dangerous tackles are opponents going to get away with on City players before someone gets a red? Every game now seems to have at least one potential leg-breaker a game. Does a De Bruyne or a Sané have to get a broken leg/ankle before FA starts stamping out this obvious tactic from teams?”
Far more important than an offside call in a probably-dead game, this.
When Lee Mason sees that Bennett foul back, by the way, he will be disappointed. Sane was really fortunate not to be seriously injured there. Players need better protection.
Anyone else think the linesman looks like Tintin from Spiral ?
— Peter Titterington (@Slimslider) January 28, 2018
I wouldn’t know, I only have time for McMafia at the moment. In fact that’s my Monday breakfast routine at the moment. Freshly ground coffee, an orange juice and McMafia. The thought will keep me, for one, going through the second half of this.
Half-time: Cardiff 0-2 Man City
Impudent opener from De Bruyne, spirited but brief riposte from Cardiff, controversial disallowed goal from Silva, clinical awarded goal from Sterling. That’s your half in a nutshell. Back soon!
45+2 min: ... which Silva chips into the wall.
45 min: Sane goes on an absolutely scintillating 70-yard run that could be one of the great solo goals ... but then Bennett absolutely puts paid to that with a cynical challenge that goes nowhere near the ball. Seeing the replay that was plain dangerous – he’s booked but he’s gone right through Sane’s lower leg and should be off for that. Free-kick on the edge of the D ...
Updated
44 min: “Sane was clearly onside so the goal should have stood, and VAR would have confirmed it,” says Pjotr van Rooijen.
42 min: Kompany just about keeps his balance to divert a Hoilett centre away, then City break yet again and Sane is crowded out in the box before Danilo drills a rather hopeless cross-shot out for a throw-in.
39 min: Ralls follows through on Walker when looking to burst into the box. Cardiff will need something ASAP, I think.
@NickAmes82 BBC commentary team calling for VAR when replays show Sane offside (marginally but off) and standing in front of the keeper (sort of). No way the decision would have been overturned. The rule is wrong, not the refereeing.
— Mark Townsend (@Mark_S_T_) January 28, 2018
Think that might be the right way of putting it, actually.
Goal! Cardiff 0-2 Man City (Sterling 37)
That one definitely counts. Bernardo Silva whips over a dream of a left-sided cross, on the run, and an unmarked Sterling sees it all the way, converting a fine downwards header from seven yards. I’m calling Game Over.
Updated
36 min: Kompany is across on the other side of the pitch now to stop Zohore. He’s playing well so far and looks sharp.
35 min: A lull, presently. There haven’t been too many. Cardiff would, I expect, be content with 0-1 at the break.
32 min: Zohore, now working the left channel, goes one-on-one with Kompany but shows him too much of the ball. Should have done better but it’s decent defending.
31 min: Man City try to shrug off that disappointment but Sane scuffs a corner shortly after Sterling shoots over the top. They really should be two up.
We need VAR. 🤷🏻♂️
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) January 28, 2018
Aaaaaaarrrrgh.
28 min: Gundogan whips a free-kick over the crossbar but in the meantime Guardiola is still seething about that, and Mason goes over for a long word. Guardiola has a case; Sane was, at best, only marginally offside and hardly in Etheridge’s direct eyeline. That looked a really fussy decision.
26 min: .... errrr .... that is *not* a goal by Bernardo Silva, who thunders in off the bar from 18 yards and it looks for all the world like a brilliant strike. But no! It’s struck off, seemingly because Leroy Sane was standing in an offside position, which seems tenuous as Etheridge wasn’t saving that. Pep Guardiola is furious! There’s then further confusion as Lee Mason consults his assistant and signals for a free-kick to Cardiff, but the BBC commentary team think a goal has in fact been given and riff on that until several seconds after play has restarted.
Updated
24 min: A long Manga clearance sends Zohore away in space down the right channel. He’s not got many options though, and isn’t lightning quick, so does the one thing that’s really on and cuts inside, his telegraphed shot being blocked. City counter immediately and ...
22 min: There was a spell after the goal when you wondered if Cardiff would be overrun but they have gathered themselves and responded quite well – but City, as always, look so smooth when allowed to play.
20 min: A few people have pointed out that De Bruyne has form for exactly the goal we just saw. He did it against Bournemouth last season, the one-trick pony.
Updated
18 min: And they come again! Bennett does brilliantly down the left and his wafted cross offers Paterson an invitation to score ... but he can’t quite stretch his head onto it. Maybe this will still be a game.
Updated
17 min: Cardiff keep up some pressure and a long throw in almost falls to Morrison after a few bounces, Otamendi having to hack away.
16 min: Oh, that’s nearly a Cardiff equaliser from absolutely nothing! Hoilett has a speculative pop from range and Bravo spills it – for a split second it seems to be crossing the line, and the crowd certainly appeal, but nothing doing. That’s got the home support going a little bit though.
15 min: Morrison takes Danilo down with an absolutely textbook bodycheck and should be booked really. But he’s not and here again is De Bruyne, from a longer distance. It’s headed out, though, and eventually bounces away for a corner. Sane whips that in and Gundogan flashes a header well over at the near post.
14 min: Cardiff can’t get any kind of possession now. How do you work your way back into this? And do you bust a gut given what else is at stake?
12 min: Walker is sprung free by a delightful De Bruyne pass but can’t pick out a team-mate. De Bruyne is running the show at this point and City look In The Mood.
10 min: That was so lovely – De Bruyne just trickled, tickled, dribbled that ball in but it really needed nothing more. Once it had got under the ball, Etheridge had no chance. Delicately, expertly done.
Goal! Cardiff 0-1 Man City (De Bruyne 8)
Oh, my. De Bruyne steps up, Cardiff’s wall jumps, and De Bruyne fairly rolls the ball low into the bottom corner. Remember that Coutinho free-kick against, I think, Brighton? This one was even cuter in my opinion.
Updated
8 min: He’s up, awkwardly, but at least whatever he’s done was not to his knee – you’ll all know about that awful injury of his. Free-kick, then, from which ...
7 min: A lovely move by City, interplaying beautifully down the left, ends with Gundogan seeing a shot smartly saved by Etheridge. The ball remains alive and Gundogan, alive to it, gets there before Ralls – who hacks him over right on the edge of the box. Free kick in a great area, but Gundogan now needs treatment ...
4 min: Now Sterling gets away down the Man City right and Bernardo Silva, meeting his low centre, backflicks harmlessly into Etheridge’s arms.
3 min: But it’s Cardiff showing the first moment of danger! Mendez-Laing absolutely burns past Danilo and towards the box – his centre goes behind the onrushing Zohore and also just behind Hoilett, on the far edge of the area, who can’t quite find space for a shot. Walker clears.
2 min: City are, unsurprisingly, enjoying a lot of early “ball”.
Peeeeeeeep – off we go!
Cardiff start us off, left to right. They are all in blue, City are in ... do we call that magenta?
Before kick-off we remember the departed Jimmy Armfield and Barnsley owner Patrick Cryne with a minute’s applause.
Big stage for Kenneth Zohore to show what he can do. Lots of Premier League interest in Danish striker...
— Ed Aarons (@ed_aarons) January 28, 2018
The teams are assembling in the tunnel. Vincent Kompany is being nice to one of the mascots. The atmosphere sounds fun. Not long to go, they’re coming out ...
The BBC are showing a little montage of Warnock’s old dressing room rants. He’s definitely calmed down – there’s a perpetual glint in the eye now, a certain self-knowledge, a willingness to troll but with a degree of humour there too. It’s hard not to like him. The steely side remains though – and Cardiff’s excellent season is testament to that.
Man City, of course, were just across the bridge at Bristol City the other day. They will have taken a lot from that; the aggregate win was comfortable eventually but they’ll also have seen exactly how a Championship outfit can cause them real problems.
To me it looks as if Cardiff will look to play fast, get the ball wide, nothing too complicated – but they’ll go for it. And why not? They’re in with a good shout of promotion, back at the coalface, so they is a real free hit. This one could be a belter.
Of course the last time Cardiff and Man City played here, four and a half years ago in the top flight, it was an absolutely brilliant game. Were any of you there?
That “Grujic” in the Cardiff side is of course Marko Grujic, recently signed on loan from Liverpool. The Serbian is an exceptional prospect and it’ll be fun to see him today. Kenneth Zohore, up front, is also a fine talent while Warnock has worked his magic with the mercurial wingers Junior Hoilett and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, both of whom fizz with danger and purpose.
What, exactly, is Warnock planning to inflict upon Man City today? Find out, courtesy of Mr Ben Fisher:
Team news
Cardiff: Etheridge, Ecuele Manga, Morrison, Paterson, Richards, Grujic, Ralls, Bennett, Mendez-Laing, Hoilett, Zohore. Subs: Tomlin, Feeney, Pilkington, Halford, Damour, Murphy, Bogle.
Man City: Bravo, Walker, Kompany, Otamendi, Danilo, De Bruyne, Fernandinho, Gundogan, Bernardo Silva, Sterling, Sane. Subs: Stones, Aguero, Mangala, Adarabioyo, Ederson, Zinchenko, Diaz.
Referee: Lee Mason
Aguero and Ederson among those on the bench but that’s a strong City team from Pep Guardiola! And a full-tilt selection from Warnock too!
Hello everyone
After one team from south Wales dealt a bloody nose yesterday, what price a second? This one has all the ingredients: a team third in the Championship, built largely on doggedness and perspiration and manned by one of the wiliest old foxes around, facing the svelte Premier League champions elect on home turf. Can a fine weekend’s cup football get even better?
There’s no reason why not. To digress, I was actually just down the road at Newport v Spurs yesterday and the atmosphere was dizzyingly wonderful – something from another time, really. It would have been, in this humble opinion, one of the great shocks of FA Cup history had Newport deservedly seen it through. If they can come so close, why not Neil Warnock’s men? It won’t quite be the same old-world atmosphere at their modern, spick and span facility but Cardiff are a decent outfit and he will have them pumped.
So let’s tuck in and see whether Man City really do have it in them to go all out for a domestic clean sweep. But before we do, don’t forget to join Will Unwin for the tail end of Chelsea v Newcastle! Team news from Cardiff coming up – get your emails and tweets across in the meantime ...
Nick will be here soon.
