Manchester City 5, Huddersfield Town 0
Phil Foden scored twice as Manchester City eased past Championship strugglers Huddersfield Town in their FA Cup 3rd Round tie.
Julian Alvarez, Oscar Bobb, and Jeremy Doku rounded off the scoring on a day when Kevin De Bruyne celebrated his return from five months out with an assist.
The game was comfortable enough for Pep Guardiola to hand a debut to Jacob Wright and also give minutes to Micah Hamilton for the last 15 minutes.
And with Erling Haaland celebrating the win from his place on the City bench the Blues look set to put their foot down on the second half of the season.
Embed from Getty ImagesPLAYER RATINGS – Manchester City 5, Huddersfield Town 0
Stefan Ortega: 7. Quiet day for him – saved from Sorba Thomas after he looked to be going clean through in the second half and late on from Bojan Radulovic.
Manuel Akanji: 6. Agricultural tackle by Alex Matos ended his game after 18 minutes.
Ruben Dias: 7. Powerful shot blocked by Alex Matos, quiet day in defence.
Josko Gvardiol: 7. Rare start in his preferred central defence. Sloppy passing going forward but solid in defence.
Sergio Gomez: 7. Got a bloody nose after accidental clash with Brodie Spencer but pressed on; was involved in the fourth goal and forced a fine save from Lee Nicholls late on.
Rico Lewis: 7. Switched to right back after Manuel Akanji went off injured. Comfortable afternoon and fully involved.
Phil Foden: 9. Another central role, movement kept Huddersfield Town guessing and he reacted first when Town failed to clear Julian Alvarez’ shot. Scored a great second goal and went up top as false nine when Julian Alvarez was rested.
Mateo Kovacic: 7. Given plenty of space to make midfield tick. Started the move that ended with Oscar Bobb goal and set up one of the Phil Foden goals.
Oscar Bobb: 8. Great going forward, had a couple of shots go near, caught out defensively occasionally. Scored a deflected goal to make the game safe for City. Started the move that ended with Jeremy Doku’s goal and went central as false 9 after Phil Foden went off.
Jack Grealish: 6. Looked a little out of sorts.
Julian Alvarez: 8. In a decent run of form. Early shot blocked, dangerous with set pieces. One of his efforts was blocked but Phil Foden put away the loose ball. Scored City’s second goal with a tap in from close range.
Matheus Nunes (on for Manuel Akanji, 18): 6. Slip allowed Alex Matos a run down the Town left flank but he started the move that ended with Julian Alvarez’ goal. Showed some good skills on the ball.
Kevin De Bruyne (on for Julian Alvarez, 57): 7. Started the move that ended with City’s fourth goal and had a crack himself from 25 yards.
Jeremy Doku (on for Jack Grealish, 57): 7. Scored a cool goal after coming on from the left flank
Jacob Wright (on for Mateo Kovacic, 75): 6. Debut for City youngster. Filled the deep lying midfield role comfortably.
Micah Hamilton (on for Phil Foden, 75): 6. Went wide on the right.
GOALS – Manchester City 5, Huddersfield Town 0
Man City 1, Huddersfield Town 0: 33. Phil Foden thrashed home the loose ball after Alex Matos had blocked the initial shot from Julian Alvarez.
Man City 2, Huddersfield Town 0: 37. Julian Alvarez turned the ball in from close range after Rico Lewis squared Matheus Nunes’ cutback.
Man City 3, Huddersfield Town 0: 58. Oscar Bobb’s cross for Kevin De Bruyne took a deflection off Ben Jackson and looped in beyond the reach of Lee Nicholls. The move was started by Mateo Kovacic and Matheus Nunes.
Man City 4, Huddersfield Town 0: 66. Phil Foden scored his second of the day from 20 yards out after Kevin De Bruyne pulled the ball back to Sergio Gomez who found Mateo Kovacic to back heel it into the path of Foden.
Man City 5, Huddersfield Town 0: 74. Jeremy Doku got on the scoresheet with a half volley low drive from 12 yards out after he met Kevin De Bruyne’s cutback following a move started by Oscar Bobb.
MATCH STATS – Manchester City 5, Huddersfield Town 0
Man City: Ortega, Akanji (Nunes 18), Dias (C), Gvardiol, Gomez, Lewis, Foden (Hamilton 75), Kovacic (Wright 75), Bobb, Grealish (Doku 57), Alvarez (De Bruyne 57)
Man City Subs not used: Ederson, Walker, Ake, Rodri
Goals: Foden 33, 66; Alvarez 37; Bobb 58; Doku 74
Huddersfield Town: Nicholls, Lees, Helik (C), Spencer, Matos (Radulovic 62), Rudoni, Edmonds-Green, Wiles (Achi Iorpenda 89), Jackson, Thomas, Koroma
Huddersfield Town Subs not used: Bellagambi, Diarra, Edwards, Hudlin, Austerfield, Ayina, Stone
Bookings: Matos 14 (foul on Manuel Akanji); Spencer 90+3 (foul on Josko Gvardiol)
Referee: Michael Salisbury