Phil Foden’s rise through Man City‘s ranks
Manchester City travel to Whaddon Road to take on Cheltenham, who are currently seventh in League Two, while the Citizens are rolling under Pep Guardiola of late, having closed the gap at the top of the Premier League and now able to hit the front in top spot should they win their game in hand.
A crucial 2-0 win over Aston Villa last time out sees City come into this contest high on confidence, though we can expect some significant rotation in order to manage their hectic schedule. The Robins are unbeaten in five and will hope to pull off a historic upset here.
City were hit with the devastating news that Kevin De Bruyne will be out for at least a month after picking up a hamstring injury, with Guardiola refusing to hide the impact of the loss: “The doctor said we’ll review the scan today which we’ve done and it will be between four and six weeks out. It is [a big blow] but we have to move forward. I’m not saying anything nobody knows about how important he is, but unfortunately for us he has to be out for an important part of the season and we have to find a solution. Everyone in their own lives is struggling in the situation we are living and we have to adapt.”
Follow all the live updates from this classic giant vs minnow fourth-round tie:
Cheltenham 0 – 0 Man City
45+6 mins: Half time. Fantastic work from Cheltenham who have held Man City over the first 45 minutes. It’s goalless at the break, could the Robins actually pull off a surprising win in the second half?
Michael Jones23 January 2021 18:21
Cheltenham 0 – 0 Man City
45+3 mins: Ben Tozer sends one of his famous long throws into the Man City box and the Robins win a corner from in. Clements swings the corner ball into the box and Steffen punches it strongly away.
Michael Jones23 January 2021 18:18
Cheltenham 0 – 0 Man City
45 mins: Six minutes of added time to play.
Michael Jones23 January 2021 18:16
Cheltenham 0 – 0 Man City
44 mins: There’s more fireworks here than the New Year’s Celebrations. That’s an exaggeration but there’s been about three minutes of play lost that will get added on. Josh Griffiths gets the game back underway.
Michael Jones23 January 2021 18:16
Cheltenham 0 – 0 Man City
41 mins: A bunch of fireworks from outside the ground keep landing on the pitch and Stuart Attwell has been forced to take the players off until they stop.
Michael Jones23 January 2021 18:12
Cheltenham 0 – 0 Man City
39 mins: A Cheltenham corner is flicked on by Tozer but it doesn’t fall for a teammate and City break on the counter. Mahrez brings down the ball as it comes over the top and takes it out to the right. He whips in the cross but Will Boyle deals with it well.
Michael Jones23 January 2021 18:09
Cheltenham 0 – 0 Man City
36 mins: Fernandinho has a shy from range and it swerves just wide of goal. Earlier Mahrez drifts in from the right and slots the ball into Jesus who is tackled on the edge of the box. He wants a free kick or a penalty but gets neither.
Michael Jones23 January 2021 18:07
Cheltenham 0 – 0 Man City
33 mins: Close! Foden and Mendy combine well again over on the left wing. Mendy brings it into the box and cuts it back to Foden who takes a left-footed shot and narrowly misses to the left of the near post.
Michael Jones23 January 2021 18:03
Cheltenham 0 – 0 Man City
30 mins: City give away a free kick over on the right side of their own final third. Clements floats it into the far side of the box and Steffen comes out to claim the ball.
Michael Jones23 January 2021 18:00
Cheltenham 0 – 0 Man City
27 mins: Foden finds Mendy on the left and he plays an awkward ball into the six-yard box but there are no City players waiting and the Robins boot it clear.
Michael Jones23 January 2021 17:57
