Man City 3-1 Plymouth: City survive big scare to book FA Cup quarter-final place after Nico O'Reilly brace | OneFootball

Man City do it the hard way but overcome the Championship strugglers

Nico O’Reilly scored a brace in Man City’s win over Plymouth

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Man City came from behind against Plymouth to reach the FA Cup quarter-final, thanks in part to a brace from an unlikely source.

Pep Guardiola opted to make wholesale changes to the team that started the 1-0 win over Tottenham in midweek with Stefan Ortega, Vitor Reis, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish and James McAtee among those recalled.

For the visitors, they welcomed back Julio Pleguezuelo but were without their round four match-winner against Liverpool, Ryan Hardie, because of injury.

As expected, Man City dominated possession right from the start but struggled to create any clear cut chances.

In fact, the closest they came to a goal was when Jack Grealish’s ball into the box took a deflection which allowed it to run through kindly for Ilkay Gundogan, who hammered an effort against the post.

City began to up the tempo from that moment, though the visitors stood strong and with their first attempt of the tie, took the lead via a corner.

Matthew Sorinola, excellent in the win over Liverpool, swung in a corner and Maksym Talovierov was there with free header and nodded the ball into the back of the net to break the deadlock and shock the hosts.

City almost hit back immediately but Conor Hazard got down low to produce a stunning save to deny Kevin De Bruyne.

However, Argyle couldn’t go in at the break ahead as right on the stroke of half-time, De Bruyne’s cross was met by Nico O’Reilly whose effort had enough power to beat Hazard and get City back on level terms.

The second half began in a similar theme to the first; City probing and Plymouth defending deep. Hazard made another good save to keep out Bernardo’s scuffed effort and then got back in time to turn De Bruyne’s clever effort over the bar.

That said, City’s pressure ultimately paid off, although it was slightly controversial as the Plymouth players insisted the corner from which O’Reilly peeled away to the back post to score from should not have been awarded.

The goal was allowed to stand and as the visitors pushed forward in search of an equaliser they left space in behind which was exploited by Ering Haaland, who after being initially denied by Hazard, collected the rebound to put the ball on a plate for De Bruyne to add a goal after providing two assists.