Exeter City's Emirates FA Cup campaign came to an end at the Etihad Stadium as a strong Man City side ruthlessly put ten past the Grecians.
Man City showed why they are one of the best sides in the world as they brushed City aside. One moment of quality saw youngster George Birch net his first professional goal with a stunning effort into the top corner late on.
Exeter City manager Gary Caldwell named a strong City side with Jake Doyle-Hayes taking the captains armband. The Man City team sheet showed how tough an afternoon City would face, with Man City naming the likes of Earling Haaland and new £62.5m signing Antoine Semenyo in the starting XI.
First Half
The Grecians came out the blocks looking to take the game to their Premier League opponents. Luca Woodhouse taking the ball past Ryan McAidoo with ease in the opening stages of the game, sending a long ball into the feet of Jayden Wareham.
The first chance of the game would come on the after five minutes, The reds winning a corner via a deflected Wareham shot. The corner was sent into the danger zone and Liam Oakes rose highest but his header was smartly pushed over by James Trafford.
City held firm until the 10th minute when the pressure from the star-studded line up told. Haaland poked a pass to Alleyne in the six-yard box and the man in blue's scrambled shot went in off the post to put the Premier League ahead
The Grecians looked to take the fight to Manchester City. Jayden Warham ran the channels all afternoon looking to bring Aitchison or Cole into the game.
Man City's class showed in the 24th minute as Jack Fitzwater blocked a McAidoo shot and the ball fell to Rodri, who hit a crisp effort from 25-yards that flew past Whitworth in the City goal to make it 2-0.
Earling Haaland almost made it 3 in the 32nd minute, but Whitworth dived to his right to palm the Norwegian international's shot away from danger.
Man City grabbed a third just before half-time. The ball was fired in from the corner and caused City problems and the ball eventually crawling over the line, off the unfortunate Fitzwater, giving the home side a 3-0 lead after 42 minutes.
Moments later Ilmari Niskanen came inches wide of getting one back. Brierley sent an inch-perfect ball into his path and Ilmari charged into the empty space in front of him and fired a shot across the face of goal beating James Trafford in the home goal but sadly also beating the far post.
Man City made it four just before the break and it was another unfortunate own goal for City as the ball was fired into the danger zone and captain Jake Doyle-Hayes got a touch to divert the ball into the City net.
Second Half
Both Managers' made changes at the start of the second-half, Josh Magennis came on for Jayden Wareham.
Man City continued to be ruthless in front of goal and they quickly made it five through Rico Lewis, the Man City player turning the ball in from close range. The never say die attitude of this Exeter team has been a hallmark of the season and they showed it again, Niskanen broke down the wing into space, he sent a cross pitch into the path of Aitchison who chested the ball down and volleyed the ball goal wards finding the side netting.
Man City grabbed a sixth in the 53rd minute as debutant Antoine Semenyo was played in and cooly slotted the ball past Whitworth from the right-side of the goal.
Gary Cadlwell turned to the bench again on the hour mark with Gomes Mendes and Higgins replacing Aitchison and Cole. Pep response was to bring on Bernardo Silva and Jeremy Doku for Semenyo and Alleyne.
The Grecians continue to press Man City, looking for the goal they deserved from the game. A corner wasn’t dealt with and Jack Fitzwater was left unmarked at the back post but he couldn’t direct his header on target.
Down the other end the home side netted their seventh of the game moments later when Reijnders curled the ball past Whitworth in the City goal to make it 7-0 after 70 minutes.
A break in play for a Manchester City injury was a rare break in play during a game that had been non stop from the outset and moments later a Nico O'Reilly header made it 8-0 to Manchester City.
Gary Caldwell made his final two substitutes of the game with Ed Francis coming on for Ethan Brierley and George Birch for Liam Oakes. Birch having only being recalled from his loan with Weston-super-Mare earlier this week.
Man City remained ruthless in front of goal and young McAidoo got on the score sheet to make it 9-0 after City had given the ball away.
City finally had something to shout about late on as young academy graduate George Birch scored the goal of the game with a stunning strike - his first in professional football as he drove forward and hit a rocket into the top corner from 25-yards.
Moments later however Man City would hit the Grecians for 10 as Rico Lewis grabbed his second of the match in added time.
Up Next
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Match Details
Manchester City XI: Trafford (GK), Reijnders, Ake (Mfuni 45'), Haaland (Mukasa 45'), Cherki, Rodrigo (C) (O’Reilly 45'), Semenyo (Doku 64'), Khusanov, McAidoo, Alleyne (Silva 64’), Lewis.
Unused Subs: Donnarumma (GK), Gonzalez, Nunes, Foden.
Goals: Alleyne 12’, Rodri 24’ Fitzwater (og) 42’ Doyle-Hayes (og) 45’ Lewis 49’ 90+1', Semenyo 54’ Reijnders 71’ McAidoo 76', O'Reilly 79'
Yellow Cards:
Exeter City XI: Whitworth (GK), Niskanen, Turns, Fitzwater, Woodhouse, Oakes (Birch 82'), Brierley (Francis 82'), Doyle-Hayes (C), Cole (Higgins 59'), Aitchison (Mendes Gomes 59'), Wareham (Magennis 45').
Unused Subs: Bycroft (GK), McMillan, Cox, Dean.
Goals: Birch 90'
Yellow Cards: Woodhouse 81'
Attendance: TBC