by MCFC Editorial
Media react to FA Cup shock
Manchester City’s defeat to Wigan means our quadruple dreams are over and this morning’s Media Watch reflects the surprise many Blues fans will have felt on a crazy night of FA Cup action.
City dominated against the spirited League One side but simply couldn’t score, with Will Grigg’s winner ensuring a famous night for the Latics.
ESPN’s Jonathan Smith summed up the feeling of shock many felt with his post-match analysis, describing the result as "incredible".
“Manchester City's hopes of winning the quadruple have incredibly been ended by League One side Wigan Athletic, as Will Grigg stunned the visitors with a brilliant 79th-minute low drive that beat the outstretched hand of Claudio Bravo," he writes.
“City had lost just once against English opposition all season: the 4-3 defeat at title rivals Liverpool. But no-one gave Wigan, second in League One and more focused on securing promotion back to the Championship, much of a chance. However, they had a real opportunity for a shock when City were reduced to 10 men as Fabian Delph was controversially sent off for a high challenge on Max Power.
“If anything, the dismissal just before half-time inspired City to cause Wigan even greater problems following a decent first half in which they should have been ahead. Wigan were forced deep into their own half as they soaked up attack after attack but managed to summon up one attack and how they made it pay. Kyle Walker misjudged a pass that gave Grigg an opening and despite the pressure from £100 million centre-half pairing of John Stones and Aymeric Laporte, the Wigan forward kept his cool to fire into the bottom corner.
“The 79th-minute goal stunned City, who were unable to create a killer chance to rescue their hopes of winning every competition this season. Guardiola even threw on Kevin De Bruyne for the closing stages but brilliant Wigan held firm to cause one of the greatest FA Cup upsets of recent years.
“Wigan's FA Cup final triumph over City five years ago will still be the greatest day in the club's history but the win over Pep Guardiola's side may be the greatest result in the club's history and their fans were quick to flood the pitch at full-time to celebrate."
Looking ahead to Sunday’s Carabao Cup final against Arsenal, Sky Sports’ James Walker-Roberts has run the rule over the two sides and he believes the improvement in City’s defence is the biggest contrast between this season and last.
City and Arsenal met at Wembley back in April in last season's FA Cup semi-final, with the Gunners winning the match in extra time.
But Walker-Roberts says the landscape has changed considerably since then.
“While Arsenal's defence has stalled, and maybe even declined at certain times and in certain areas, City's looks to have improved," he writes. “Significant investment has played a part, but Nicolas Otamendi and John Stones have both looked more secure in Pep Guardiola's second season in charge.
“This time last year, Jamie Carragher said there were "seven or eight" teams in the Premier League with better defences than Manchester City. That was in a season when City were beaten 4-2 at Leicester and 4-0 at Everton, as well as losing 3-1 at Monaco in the Champions League.
“However, this season City have only conceded more than one goal in a game on six occasions - one a 7-2 thrashing of Stoke and one a 2-1 defeat at Shakhtar Donetsk in a dead rubber Champions League clash. They have let in 20 goals in the Premier League this season, a total only bettered by Manchester United (19), and have also kept the third-highest number of clean sheets (12) behind Chelsea (14) and United (15)."
That’s all for this morning’s media roundup. Stay with us throughout the day for more as we prepare for Sunday’s Wembley showdown.
Tuesday Gossip
posted on 20/2/18
I think a ban sends the wrong message. Especially to idiots who think it is acceptable to attack players on the pitch.
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I agree, otherwise I would just run on the pitch and risk getting a stadium ban just to get KdB or Hazard etc a game ban before a cup final.
Aguero often has unprofessional moments (often goes under the radar) yet a fan going out their way to attack you is the biggest NO in football. Should be allowed to push away whoever you want.
posted on 20/2/18
If you were in City end how did you get out so quickly?
They didn't and generally don't let away fans leave straight away to avoid confrontations outside the ground x
posted on 20/2/18
Edinspur - honestly if a great big player, even a United player, nutted and KO'd one of these interlopers, I'd cheer.
I didn't like Prescott as a politician, but I respected him for punching the guy whom egged him x
posted on 20/2/18
comment by X (U4074)
posted 2 minutes ago
If you were in City end how did you get out so quickly?
They didn't and generally don't let away fans leave straight away to avoid confrontations outside the ground x
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I left a minute before the final whistle to avoid that very scenario.
It was obvious what was coming
None of the Wigan Fans were leaving at that point so I was able to get away from the ground easily.
posted on 20/2/18
The inconsistency between nothing being shown for the studs into Aguero and the Delph challenge is not good. Either both are just fouls, both are yellows or both are reds. The first one was worse I feel but that is not to excuse Delph's stupidity for giving the ref a decision to make. Wasn't a tackle that needed to be made, at that time or in that place. He deserved a red for stupidity but the one on Aguero was, in my opinion, nasty and appeared to be done to inflict injury.
posted on 20/2/18
None of which excuses City for failing to score, clearly was just not going to happen.
posted on 20/2/18
comment by bomdia (U13941)
posted 53 seconds ago
The inconsistency between nothing being shown for the studs into Aguero and the Delph challenge is not good. Either both are just fouls, both are yellows or both are reds. The first one was worse I feel but that is not to excuse Delph's stupidity for giving the ref a decision to make. Wasn't a tackle that needed to be made, at that time or in that place. He deserved a red for stupidity but the one on Aguero was, in my opinion, nasty and appeared to be done to inflict injury.
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Agreed
No one seems to be talking about the challenge on Aguero by Burns???? was it?
Red all day whether he intended to catch him with the follow through or not. The studs were high and showing and made significant impact for the tackle to be considered dangerous.
On another day it could have resulted in serious injury.
That challenge was worse in my opinion but not according to the referee. Didn't even book him.
posted on 20/2/18
comment by bomdia (U13941)
posted 4 minutes ago
None of which excuses City for failing to score, clearly was just not going to happen.
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Sometimes it just isn't going to be your day
Let's hope City don't have a repeat on Sunday.
posted on 20/2/18
comment by bomdia (U13941)
posted 38 minutes ago
None of which excuses City for failing to score, clearly was just not going to happen.
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So Many shots off target it was like last season all over again.
posted on 20/2/18
We don't really expect Kun to score many with his head but he had one clear cut chance that I did expect him to head cleanly into the net. Set the tone for what seemed destined from that point to be a frustrating evening.