Manchester City absolutely thrashed League One opposition Exeter City as Pep Guardiola’s side cruised into the fourth round of the FA Cup.
City, beaten finalists in the past two seasons, benefitted from two first-half own goals before piling on the goals in a huge win.
1+1 – Antoine Semenyo is the first player to both score and assist a goal on his Manchester City debut in all competitions since Sergio Agüero against Swansea in August 2011. Running. pic.twitter.com/rWcdX1jstU
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 10, 2026
Jake Doyle-Hayes and Jack Fitzwater were the unfortunate men who put the ball in their own net after defender Max Alleyne opened his account for the club and captain for the day Rodri continued his comeback from injury with a cracking goal.
Pep Guardiola watching Man City’s FA Cup game against Exeter from the stands 🔭
He’s serving a one-match touchline ban for receiving three yellow cards this season 🟨 pic.twitter.com/cKVwgXw8rW
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 10, 2026
Rico Lewis picked up a goal in the second half and Antoine Semenyo, the £65m signing from Bournemouth, then scored on his debut with a fine low finish.
Tijjani Reijnders made it seven with a stunning curling finish and Nico O’Reilly headed an eighth as City matched the score they put up on Salford City last year.
2 – Exeter City are the first side to score two own goals in an FA Cup match since Hartlepool v Stoke in January 2023, and first against a Premier League opponent since Brighton v Liverpool in February 2012. Misfortune.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 10, 2026
There was time for City to go one better as Ryan McAidoo hammered in from 20 yards on his debut with bizarrely City’s ninth shot on target of the game.
The home fans were calling for a 10th but the next goal came for Exeter, George Birch hammering in left-footed.
The goals weren’t over, and Lewis got his second of the game to bring up double figures in added time.
City have now won their last 16 home matches in the FA Cup while Exeter last beat a top-flight side in the competition when they knocked out Leicester in 1981.