The Premier League side were typically dominant from the outset and kept their in-form Championship opponents pegged back for long stretches of the game. Ferran Torres had an effort tipped wide by Freddie Woodman in the best chance of the opening stages, but the opening goal was rather less spectacular.
Kyle Walker sent a low cross into the area from deep on the right and everybody missed the ball, goalkeeper included, as it rolled straight into the far corner. Jay Fulton headed over minutes later as the Swans sought a response, but despite reaching the break only a goal down, the match was out of reach straight after the restart as captain Raheem Sterling rolled in a second.
City then took the game away from Swansea as Gabriel Jesus netted the third soon after, before both teams started making a host of changes around the hour mark. Pep Guardiola’s side missed a handful of chances for a fourth before Morgan Whittaker fired in a fine consolation.
Here are the player ratings from the fifth-round clash.
Freddie Woodman – 5. A very good save from Torres but disappointed that a cross beat him for the opener. Nowhere near the rest.
Ben Cabango – 5. Caught in possession once or twice and made a couple of poor, unnecessary tackles. One good clearance off almost the goal-line.
Joel Latibeaudiere – 5. Cool on the ball, but perhaps too much so – gifted the third goal with a bad pass out and a missed attempted header.
Marc Guehi – 7. A leader at the back and did very well in standing up to the one-on-one challenges City’s attackers presented.
Connor Roberts – 5. Caught out several times with passes in behind and couldn’t get forward in support of the attack.
Jay Fulton – 6. Very hard-working, stood up well to the test of constantly chasing City’s midfielders.
Matt Grimes – 5. Like Fulton, tried his best to close out the spaces and passing lanes, though did have a tough time of it when in possession himself.
Ryan Manning – 6. Often the initial out-ball and played a few good crosses from deep.
Yan Dhanda – 6. Some neat passes through to the attack but didn’t see enough of the ball. Good set-piece delivery at times and a fine volley which flew off-target.
Jordan Morris – 6. A willing runner and gave City trouble at times. Didn’t see many chances fall his way.
Jamal Lowe – 5. Took up good initial positions but lacked speed in both movement and executing his finishing touch.
Raheem Sterling for Man City
(POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Zack Steffen – 6. Didn’t have a notable save to make in the first half and beaten with the only effort on target Swansea managed. Good distribution when called upon.
Kyle Walker – 6. Great recovery pace on show more than once. A rare goal, even if he didn’t mean it.
Eric Garcia – 5. One or two occasions when Swansea’s forwards managed to run in behind him and completely lost his man for Swansea’s goal.
Aymeric Laporte – 7. Not a huge test for him but he did have a couple of nervy moments on the ball – perhaps not quite fully sharp yet after being in and out of the side of late.
Benjamin Mendy – 7. A few rash moments but got forward well and supported the attack.
Rodri – 8. Barely ever puts a foot wrong in possession. Good positional work against the counter, too. Picked up an injury which City will hope isn’t severe.
Ilkay Gundogan – 7. Selfless runner and clever passing for almost an hour, before being replaced.
Bernardo Silva – 7. Has enjoyed almost as good a run of form as Gundogan of late and was again influential here.
Ferran Torres – 7. Some decent runs down the flank, held the width well and almost scored once or twice.
Gabriel Jesus – 8. Brilliant touch and finish for City’s third goal. Great running and link play all night.
Raheem Sterling – 8. Kept making the runs and got his reward. Clearly of a far higher level than the players he was up against but showed good industry and team work as well as showing class.
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