Milner scores twice as City come from behind
FA Cup Third Round
Sunday 04 January 2015, 15.00 KO
City: Caballero, Sagba, Boyata, Mangala, Kolarov (Clichy 75), Fernando, Toure, Lampard (Silva 61), Milner, Navas, Jovetic (Nasri 61)
Unused: Hart, Demichelis, Fernandinho, Bersant
Goals: Milner (66, 91)
Booked: None
Referee: Michael Oliver
Man of the match: James Milner
Sunday saw Manchester City host Sheffield Wednesday in the third round of the FA Cup at The Etihad Stadium. It was also the second time the clubs have met this season, having with the Blues having previously knocked Wednesday out of the Capital One Cup back in Setember.
City manager Manuel Pellegrini opted for a strong side, featuring the likes of Yaya Toure, Stevan Jovetic and Frank Lampard. As in the previous home game against Sunderland, City once gaian started poorly. Stevan Jovetic was guilty of giving the ball away far too often, and Wednesday took the lead with Nihui lashing in Stevie May's pass to send the away fans wild. City didn't respond well enough in the first half, conceding possession softly and failing to trouble Chris Kirkland in the Wednesday goal. The Premier League Champions went in trailing at half time, with the away side looking more than comfortable.
In the second half, Pellegrini was quick to respond, bringing on both David Silva and Samir Nasri for Stevan Jovetic and Frank Lampard with half an hour remaining. Immediately the home side had more purpose about them. There was greater fluidity on and off the ball, with Silva and Nasri exploiting the space created, and it was no surprise to both players involved in the equaliser. Nasri's pass was cushioned beautifully by David Silva to James Miner, who guided the ball home through the legs of the despairing Kirkland.
City begain to assert themselves on the game, probing at the Wednesday defence. It wasn't until the 91st minute however, that City made the breakthrough. Milner again was on hand to tap home a cross from Jesus Navas and send City through to the next round.