Manchester City will begin their quest for FA Cup glory against Swindon Town when the two sides meet in the third round at the County Ground on Friday evening with kickoff at 11 pm.
In the third round of the FA Cup, Premier League champions will face Swindon Town, who are through to this stage by beating Crewe Alexandra and Walsall.
The Swindon Town football club was unable to reach the third round of the FA Cup in 10 successive seasons before doing so this time around, with a comfortable 3-0 win over Crewe Alexandra in round one preceding a 2-1 triumph at Walsall back in December.
The team from the fourth division last competed in the fifth round of the FA Cup back in 1991-92, but they won’t have any chance of continuing their run to round four when they face off against Arsenal or Hull City on Friday.
While taking Manchester City in the FA Cup has not been a cakewalk, the team’s coach Pep Guardiola has won the trophy only once since arriving at the Etihad.
Manchester City has been knocked out of the FA Cup semi-finals twice in the last seven years, losing to Arsenal in 2013 and Chelsea in 2018, but not since 2011-12 have they bowed out at this stage – when they lost 3-2 against Manchester United.
Swindon Town vs. Manchester City Head to Head
Both sides are yet to face each other, marking their first encounter. Here is a look at their previous encounters:
Home
- Swindon Town 5-2 Northampton Town
- Swindon Town 0-0 Stevenage
- Barrow 2-0 Swindon Town
- Leyton Orient 4-1 Swindon Town
- Walsall 1-2 Swindon Town
Away
- Arsenal 1-2 Manchester City
- Brentford 0-1 Manchester City
- Manchester City 6-3 Leicester City
- Newcastle 0-4 Man City
- Man City 7-0 Leeds United
Swindon Town Team News
Goalkeeper Joe Wollacott has been called up to the Ghana squad for the African Cup of Nations and will not be available here so that Lewis Ward could get the nod in between the sticks.
Manchester City Team News
Manchester City has only one African Cup of Nations (AFCON) representative in Algeria’s Riyad Mahrez, who would have most likely been given a rest anyway alongside John Stones, who is doubtful with a knock.
Prediction and Odds
Manchester City will make a few adjustments to their game on Friday, but we predict they will win comfortably.
- Manchester City Win
- Goals Over 3.5
- No Score: Home
