FA Cup: Man City beat Swansea to reach sixth round

Manchester City side marched into the FA Cup sixth-round with a 3-1 win at Swansea on Wednesday evening – their 15th consecutive win.

Goals from Kyle Walker, Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus out paid to the challenge of the Championship promotion hopefuls in south Wales.

Swansea handed American international loan signing Jordan Morris his first start in the FA Cup fifth-round tie with Manchester City at the Liberty Stadium.

Pep Guardiola made seven changes from the visitors’ side which had won 4-1 at Liverpool on Sunday, with starts for goalkeeper Zack Steffen and an entire new-look back-four of Walker, Eric Garcia, Aymeric Laporte and Benjamin Mendy.

Only Raheem Sterling, who was handed the captain’s armband, Rodri, Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan survived from the Anfield victory.

Manchester City dominated possession and territory and Swansea goalkeeper Freddie Woodman made smart saves from Gabriel Jesus and Ferran Torres, while Laporte headed wide.

The visitors’ breakthrough came on the half-hour mark when Walker’s cross evaded everyone in the penalty area and crept into the far corner of Woodman’s net, the England defender’s second goal of the season.

Swansea responded well to falling behind with Jay Fulton heading over and Jamal Lowe’s near-post effort blocked by Garcia.

But Manchester City led 1-0 at the interval and Swansea had not managed a shot on target.

Sterling though soon doubled the Premier League side’s advantage just after half-time. The England man collected Rodri’s pass before expertly firing past Woodman for 2-0.

And they soon made it 3-0 through Jesus’ turn and shot after he neatly collected Silva’s header.

With 70 minutes gone and the tie already over, Swansea boss Steve Cooper was thinking of the Championship trip to Sheffield Wednesday this weekend.

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He made a quadruple substitution, with four players who can expect to be involved at Hillsborough given a rest.

Pep Guardiola on the other hand brought on Phil Foden.

But Swansea did grab a goal back on 77 minutes when sub Morgan Whittaker scored with a fine left-footed strike after spinning inside the area.