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Cheltenham Town came within nine minutes of one of the biggest shocks in recent FA Cup history before Manchester City staged a dramatic late rally to crush the dreams of the gallant League Two side.
The Robins, 72 places below City who lie second in the Premier League, threatened huge embarrassment for Pep Guardiola’s side after Alfie May put Cheltenham ahead on the hour after a trademark long throw from captain Ben Tozer caused chaos in the area.
City, who made ten changes to the team that beat Aston Villa in the Premier League on Wednesday, spared their embarrassment when Phil Foden, the game’s outstanding player, arrived at the far post to turn in substitute Joao Cancelo’s long cross in the 81st minute.
And the turnaround was complete three minutes later when a rare moment of slackness in the outstanding Cheltenham defence, with goalkeeper Josh Griffiths superb, switched off and Gabriel Jesus scored from Fernandinho’s delivery.
Ferran Torres scored Manchester City’s third with the last kick of the game to give the scoreline a cruel reflection on Cheltenham’s heroic efforts.
It was so cruel on manager Michael Duff and his players, who now go back the battle for promotion from League Two, while City will be at home to Swansea in the fifth round.
More to follow.
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Cheltenham Town
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Squad number20Player nameGriffiths
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Squad number5Player nameRaglan
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Squad number4Player nameTozer
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Squad number15Player nameBoyle
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Squad number11Player nameBlair
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Squad number18Player nameAzaz
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Squad number7Player nameThomas
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Squad number8Player nameClements
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Squad number17Player nameFreestone
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Squad number10Player nameMay
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Squad number19Player nameLloyd
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Squad number2Player nameLong
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Squad number14Player nameWilliams
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Squad number16Player nameAddai
Manchester City
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Squad number3Player nameRúben Dias
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Squad number8Player nameGündogan
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Squad number27Player nameJoão Cancelo
Line-ups
Cheltenham
Formation 3-5-2
- 20Griffiths
- 5RaglanBooked at 48mins
- 4TozerBooked at 84mins
- 15BoyleBooked at 24mins
- 11Blair
- 18AzazSubstituted forWilliamsat 81′minutes
- 7Thomas
- 8ClementsSubstituted forAddaiat 89′minutes
- 17Freestone
- 10May
- 19LloydSubstituted forLongat 69′minutes
Substitutes
- 1Flinders
- 2Long
- 6Bowry
- 14Williams
- 16Addai
- 22Harris
- 30Ebanks
Man City
Formation 4-4-2
- 13Steffen
- 78Harwood-BellisSubstituted forRúben Diasat 68′minutes
- 50GarcÃa
- 14LaporteBooked at 60mins
- 22MendySubstituted forCanceloat 77′minutes
- 26Mahrez
- 69DoyleSubstituted forGündoganat 68′minutes
- 25Fernandinho
- 47Foden
- 21Torres
- 9Gabriel Jesus
Substitutes
- 3Rúben Dias
- 7Sterling
- 8Gündogan
- 11Zinchenko
- 16Rodri
- 20Bernardo Silva
- 27Cancelo
- 31Ederson
- 82Bernabé
Live Text
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Match ends, Cheltenham Town 1, Manchester City 3.
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Second Half ends, Cheltenham Town 1, Manchester City 3.
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Goal! Cheltenham Town 1, Manchester City 3. Ferran Torres (Manchester City) right footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Ilkay Gündogan.
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Substitution, Cheltenham Town. Alex Addai replaces Chris Clements.
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Eric GarcÃa (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Alfie May (Cheltenham Town).
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Attempt missed. Matty Blair (Cheltenham Town) right footed shot from the right side of the box is too high following a corner.
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Corner, Cheltenham Town. Conceded by João Cancelo.
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Ben Tozer (Cheltenham Town) is shown the yellow card.
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Goal! Cheltenham Town 1, Manchester City 2. Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Fernandinho with a through ball.
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Goal! Cheltenham Town 1, Manchester City 1. Phil Foden (Manchester City) left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box to the top left corner. Assisted by João Cancelo with a cross.
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Substitution, Cheltenham Town. Andy Williams replaces Finn Azaz.
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Attempt missed. João Cancelo (Manchester City) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Riyad Mahrez.
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Phil Foden (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Conor Thomas (Cheltenham Town).
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Attempt missed. Phil Foden (Manchester City) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by João Cancelo with a cross.
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Substitution, Manchester City. João Cancelo replaces Benjamin Mendy.
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Rúben Dias (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Alfie May (Cheltenham Town).
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Rúben Dias (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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