SHEFF WED 0, MAN CITY 1
Sergio Aguero came up with another hugely important goal, Manchester City’s matchwinner in their Emirates FA Cup, fifth-round victory at Sheffield Wednesday.
It was no more than City deserved as they dominated with 80 per cent possession and had 20 goal attempts to only one from the hosts.
The only thing lacking was a cutting edge as City, not for the first time this season, were unable to kill off opponents.
And when City found a route to goal, they struggled to get past Owls’ reserve-team goalkeeper Joe Wildsmith who, playing his first game since August 2018, pulled off some important saves.
Indeed, Wildsmith was unlucky with the goal as Aguero’s effort looked to be saved but rebounded off the keeper and looped into the net.
City’s reward was a quarter-final draw at Newcastle where they don’t have a decent record in recent season.
Embed from Getty ImagesAsked about the difficult draw, City manager Pep Guardiola said: “The most important thing we are there, we are in the draw.
“It was our fourth away game in a row, and we are at Old Trafford on Sunday.
“On Sunday (in the Carabao Cup final) we used a lot of mental energy.
“What pleased me was that we didn’t concede a shot on target in the game and in the second half we were better as we had more space and had chances to score more goals.”
Wednesday manager Garry Monk was disappointed with the goal conceded, claiming Aguero was offside, though there was no complaint about the result.
He was mystified how VAR operates in some FA Cup games, but not this tie.
Monk, whose side has lost nine out of 16 league and cup games since Christmas to slip from third to 12th place in the Championship, was delighted with the effort and commitment of his side.
City made six changes from their Carabao Cup winning team.
Claudio Bravo, John Stones, Rodrigo, David Silva were the five survivors.
The players to lose out were Kyle Walker, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Ilkay Gundogan, Fernandinho, Raheem Sterling and Phil Foden.
There was a rare start for Joao Cancelo and call-ups for Nicolas Otamendi, Benjamin Mendy, Bernardo Silva, Riyad Mahrez and Gabriel Jesus.
Wednesday made four changes from the side beaten by Derby at the weekend in the Championship.
City enjoyed 75 per cent possession in the early stages, but it was Wednesday who had the first clear-cut chance when Jacob Murphy fired narrowly wide after cutting in from the right.
Wednesday’s five-man back line defended resolutely and City failed to register a goal attempt on target in the opening half hour, a great achievement by the hosts from the second tier.
City came within inches of breaking the deadlock in the 32nd minute when Otamendi headed against the underside of the bar from Mahrez’s free kick.
Stones also went close on the stroke of half time, heading just wide at the far post from Mahrez’s free kick.
It was City’s eighth goal attempt of the half to Wednesday’s one, but neither side had an effort on target, highly unusual for Guardiola’s misfiring side who never examined Wildsmith.
Wildsmith made his first save of the match three minutes after the restart, a relatively easy stop to deny Aguero’s weakly-hit shot.
City began with a far greater urgency and overlapping left back Benjamin Mendy striking the bat with a fierce drive.
Bernardo Silva then forced a decent diving from Wildsmith, and it looked only a matter of time until the breakthrough came.
And so it proved as City took a 53rd minute lead when Mendy set up Aguero whose shot fortuitous shot found the net, his 23rd goal of the season.
Wednesday weathered the storm as, at 1-0, they remained in with a shout.
City came close to doubling their lead in the 72nd minute when Wildsmith made a great double save to deny Stones and Aguero, both with his legs.
And not long after there was as further double stop, this time to keep out two efforts from Mahrez.
Wednesday went close to equalising when Owls’ substitute Steven Fletcher, sliding in at the far post, just failed to convert a cross.
Substitute Tom Lees just failed to get on the end of a corner in front of goal as Wednesday suddenly sensed a way back into the game.
City made their first change with four minutes left when Aguero made way for Sterling.
And Sterling had the chance to seal victory in the second of three added minutes, but his shot was well kept out by the legs of Wildsmith.
Luckily it didn’t matter as City comfortably held out to claim their last-eight place.