Salford City's FA Cup journey came to a dismal end as they were thrashed 8-0 by Manchester City, with James McAtee scoring a hat-trick and Jack Grealish netting his first goal in over a year. The match, played at the Etihad, saw Manchester City dominate from the start, with Jeremy Doku curling in an early lead. Divin Mubama then tapped in on debut, and Nico O'Reilly also got on the scoresheet. Grealish's penalty made it 4-0, and McAtee's smart finish at the near post added to the tally. Doku then scored his second, rolling a penalty into the bottom corner. Foden's scuffed shot fell perfectly into the path of McAtee, who took a touch and slotted in to double his tally. McAtee sealed the match ball when Grealish played a low cross into the middle and he slid in to complete a 19-minute hat-trick. Salford City's goalkeeper made a great save to deny Gundogan, but it was too little, too late. The referee took pity on Salford City, blowing the final whistle without adding any stoppage time. Manchester City cruised into the fourth round of the FA Cup, while Salford City were left to pick up the pieces. The match saw Salford City's Wright come on as a substitute, becoming the youngest player to feature at the Etihad. Despite the heavy defeat, Salford City's fans were impressed by their team's performance, with McAleny volleying an effort into the side-netting. Manchester City's Ederson was barely tested, but he did make a crucial save to deny Taylor. The match was a stark contrast to Salford City's usual performances in League Two, where they have been struggling to find form. Salford City's manager will be looking to regroup and focus on their league campaign, while Manchester City will be looking to build on their dominant display.