The Class of 92 influence was clear at the Etihad Stadium but Salford City were unable to cause a monumental upset as Manchester City cruised to victory on a record-breaking night
Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt watched on as Salford City, with Ryan Giggs as assistant manager, were put to the sword by Manchester City as Salford suffered their heaviest-ever defeat.
The Class of 92’s impact at Salford has been massive since completing a takeover of the then-non-league club in 2014. The FA Cup third-round draw offered the club’s biggest night as they travelled across Manchester to take on Pep Guardiola’s stuttering side.
Despite the tie, matched with Salford’s form of six straight wins and City’s well-documented troubles on the pitch, the magic of the cup was nowhere to be seen for those of a Salford persuasion as Karl Robinson’s side were hammered 8-0.
After just eight minutes, Jeremy Doku put the hosts ahead to kill any nerves that may have lingered amongst the City faithful. Just over ten minutes later, debutant Divin Mubama doubled the score as he tapped home from close range to make an immediate mark.
The 20-year-old played a handful of times for West Ham before he moved to the champions in the summer following the expiration of his contract in East London. But Mubama has had to wait for his chance, having only made a matchday squad three times for the Blues, all as an unused substitute.
Mubama’s performance caught the eye of City fans on social media, who lapped up his display as the imposing centre forward put in a solid audition to play second fiddle to Erling Haaland. “He’d be a perfect backup for Erling Haaland, I’m surprised we haven’t seen him earlier this season,” one fans wrote on X.
A second said: “Mubama bullying defenders, kid is strong.” A third added: “Mubama’s movement is super promising for someone his age”. While another lauded: “Mubama has done everything right so far what a player”.
Mubama was the only debutant to feature but was one of a number of young stars that Guardiola gave a chance to from the off, with Jahmai Simpson-Pusey, James McAtee and Nico O’Reilly all starting, with the latter scoring City’s third and McAtee netting a second half hat-trick, scoring the hosts’ fifth, seventh and eighth of the night.
The England U20 international had only played three times for City’s U21 team before his debut, making a late cameo in the 5-0 EFL Trophy defeat against Lincoln City alongside two games in the Premier League 2, scoring twice in his only start against Nottingham Forest.
Mubama linked up with Jack Grealish just minutes into the second-half, seeing the £100million man fouled in the box and converting the subsequent penalty. The scoreline racked up as McAtee’s hat-trick opened up a chasm with Doku scoring the sixth from the penalty spot.