City Line-Up:
12) Stuart Taylor
4) Nedum Onouha
44) Dedryck Boyata
33) Vincent Kompany
16) Sylvinho
48) Abdi Ibrahim
34) Nigel de Jong (c)
7) Stephen Ireland
17) Martin Petrov
27) Benjani
10) Robinho
Subs:
37) Gunnar Nielsen 2) Micah Richards 5) Pablo Zabaleta 18) Gareth Barry 39) Craig Bellamy 8) Shaun Wright-Phillips 45) Gregory Cunningham
City started this match with only three of the starting line up from Tuesday’s cup demolition of The Rags in Kompany, Boyata and De Jong. For the rest it was a case of some gaining experience,
some match fitness and the rest something to prove to manager Roberto Mancini.
And it was a great start for City as the star-struck Iron’s defence let City play and go ahead inside five minutes when Petrov beat his fullback and hit a seventy mile an hour scorcher past the Scunthorpe keeper.
That should have been the catalyst for the Sky Blues to push home their advantage with a passing display of up tempo football, but instead the Blues players took their foot of the gas and allowed Scunthorpe back into the game.
After two very clear cut chances, The Irons forged an equalizer after the Rag linesman failed to raise his flag with two players clearly offside and Hayes finished smartly passed Taylor in goal.
The Ragness of the linesman’s was further compounded when the other linesman flagged Benjani offside when he looked marginal at worst.
Just before half time when all in the stadium were beginning to believe a cup upset was on the cards, but Stevie Ireland threaded a ball through to Nedum Onouha who slotted the ball past the Scunthorpe keeper.
Before the break City could have tied things up, when another flowing move culminated in Ireland finding himself with a half-chance, but the Irishman’s clever dink was wide of the post.
The second half was delayed in starting as strangely the linesman who had failed to raise his flag for the equalizer was reported to be feeling nauseous (no doubt at seeing the horses head in his kit bag).
Unsurprisingly the second half wasn’t tainted with rag-like controversy and City looked to control the game with a passing game.
City went ahead thorough a sublime 32 yard shot from Silvinho that dipped, swerved, curled and just about everything else before flying past the floundering Iron’s keeper.
Then Robinho finished off a great passing move involving himself, Zabaleta and Petrov.
After the goal and all that effort, the Scunthorpe players’ heads understandably dropped and City were able play some possession football and were allowed to pass the rest of the game out.
All in all, a decent performance from both teams and no real negatives to take into Wednesday game of the decade.
In terms of team performances Taylor and Ireland got some game time and there was some experience for Ibramhim, Boyata and Cunningham.
Of the highs were the goals from Petrov, Sylvinho and Robinho and a goal for fan’s favourite Onuouha. It was almost a perfect game from impressive Boyata too but for two rushes of blood. He is definitely one for the future.
The lows were the performances of Benjani and Robinho’s poor finishing
Man of the Match had to be Petrov who was involved in every quality move of the match and scored a scorcher. Kompany was a close second, standing firm in the face of a spirited Irons attack.
City will now face Stoke City in a home tie of the fifth round of the FA Cup. Bring It On!
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