Manchester City 8-0 Salford: McAtee Hat-Trick Powers Dominant FA Cup Win

• James McAtee nets a hat-trick as Manchester City cruise into the FA Cup fourth round.
• Jeremy Doku, Jack Grealish, Divin Mubama, and Nico O’Reilly also on the scoresheet.
• City dismantle League Two Salford in an emphatic display at the Etihad.

Manchester City showcased their attacking firepower with a resounding 8-0 victory over Salford City in the FA Cup third round, led by a sensational hat-trick from James McAtee.

The Premier League champions wasted no time asserting their dominance, with Jeremy Doku opening the scoring just four minutes in following a lightning-quick counter-attack. Young forward Divin Mubama doubled the lead within 20 minutes, setting the tone for an evening of relentless attacking football.

Teenage prospect Nico O’Reilly added a third before half-time, coolly slotting into the bottom corner after a sharp assist from Doku, who was in sparkling form.

Second-Half Rampage

Jack Grealish, still seeking his first goal of the season, earned and converted a penalty shortly after the interval, before James McAtee stole the spotlight. The dynamic midfielder converted a pinpoint Doku cross to make it five, demonstrating his growing importance in City’s setup.

Doku continued his electric performance, winning another penalty after Salford’s Curtis Tilt handled his goalbound effort. McAtee completed his hat-trick with two more well-taken finishes, capping a memorable night for the youngster.

Salford, pushing for promotion from League Two, were unable to handle the pace, precision, and creativity of a City side blending youth and experience.

Player Ratings (3-4-2-1)

Substitutes

• Manuel Akanji (46′ for Ake): 6.8/10 – Steady performance off the bench.
• Phil Foden (55′ for Savinho): 7.1/10 – Added creativity and flair late on.
• Mateo Kovacic (74′ for Doku): 6.3/10 – Helped maintain control in midfield.

Subs not used: Stefan Ortega (GK), Josko Gvardiol, Rico Lewis, Bernardo Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, Erling Haaland.

Manchester City will now turn their attention to the fourth round as they continue their quest for another trophy, while Salford will refocus on their League Two campaign.