Manchester City 5-0 Barnsley
The FA Cup with Budweiser
Sixth Round Proper
5.30pm, Satursday 9 March 2013
The Etihad Stadium, Manchester City FC
Live on ESPN
Winning clubs receive £360,000 from The FA's Prize Fund
Click here for fixtures

A Carlos Tevez hat-trick ensured Manchester City enjoyed a comfortable passage into The FA Cup with Budweiser Semi-Finals with their victory over a bewildered Barnsley.

The Argentinian delivered an accomplished performance adding to his collection of goals with assists for both David Silva and Aleksander Kolarov’s strikes.

With Tevez’s appetite undiminishing throughout it proved a tough afternoon for David Flitcroft’s side.

The Tykes’ would have feared as much after the names included on Roberto Mancini team sheet underlined the Italian’s determination for progression.

The combined talents of Tevez, Edin Dzeko, Samir Nasri and David Silva would trouble some of the best defensive arrangements in the game, never mind one which began the afternoon rooted to the foot of the Championship table.

Unsurprisingly, City didn’t have to wait long to be rewarded. As little as ten minutes had passed before the Premier League champions had pierced the visitors’ resolve.

Yaya Toure’s deft flick found the slippery run of Silva whose nonchalant outside of the foot volley forced Barnsley keeper Steele to palm onto the post. Carlos Tevez was on hand to tap the rebound home from close range.

The visitors’ early intentions to hassle and harry proved futile against a City side who quickly began to monopolise possession and assert their rhythm on proceedings. The game’s narrative was established early: massed ranks of red shirts penned inside their own half, with City patiently prodding and probing for an attacking avenue.

City’s quick combination play caused all manner of problems for the visitors. And it was through this design that City doubled their lead.

Dzeko pick-pocketed Barnsley’s David Perkins inside Barnsley territory before releasing Tevez on City’s right. Many in this position would have thrashed a hopeful cross across the face of goal. Not Tevez.

The man of the match produced a pull-back which deceived numerous bodies to find the onrushing Kolarov who finished clinically at the far post.

It proved to be one of many sublime moments to admire in City’s attacking play. Another of which wasn’t long in coming.

Again Silva was the architect of the move, effortlessly gliding through midfield before finding Kolarov on the left.

The diminutive Spaniard continued his run to receive Kolarov’s return pass before deftly redirecting the ball into the path of Tevez with a sumptuous single touch. Tevez duly wriggled free in the crowded box to grab his second of the afternoon.

Three goals behind and only a third of the game contested it was no surprise to see some vigorous head-scratching in the visitors’ technical area. If it wasn’t for the intervention of Steele in the Barnsley goal, City could have realistically departed for half-time with a much greater tally.

With Silva and Tevez occupying the starring creative roles in the first period, it was Samir Nasri who felt the urge to take centre stage at the start of the second period.

Wriggling away from Kelvin Etuhu on City’s left the Frenchman delivered an accurate cross for Tevez to complete his hat-trick from close-range.

With little to lose, Flitcroft should be admired for the second-half triple substitution which rejuvenated his side. Firstly, Jacob Mellis’s volley forced the largely unemployed Costel Pantilimon into a smart saved.

Moments later midfielder Ryan Tunnicliffe surged past Joleon Lescott and Pablo Zabaleta only to see his low effort repelled by City’s stopper low to his right.

It would prove the best of Barnsley’s offering, leaving Mancini’s men to easily add to their total. Silva capped his playmaking display with a goal he seemed almost reluctant to score.

Seizing on Tevez’s pull-back Silva tapped home after his first effort was repelled by Steele. The standing ovation he was as he departed the arena moments later was nothing but deserved.

The same could be said about the applause which brought Tevez’s afternoon to a celebratory end as City joined Wigan Athletic in the hat for the Semi-Final draw.



Manchester City
30 Pantilimon, 5 Zabaleta, 6 Lescott, 13 Kolarov, 28 K Toure, 8 Nasri (Sinclair, 52), 18 Barry, 21 Silva (Razak, 66), 42 Y Toure, 10 Dzeko, 32 Tevez (Milner, 76)
Subs not used 1 Hart, 22 Clichy, 33 Nastasic, 14 Garcia

Barnsley
1 Steele, 6 Foster, 14 Wiseman, 25 Cranie, 33 Kennedy, 11 Perkins, 19 Cywka (Mellis, 52), 28 Tunnicliffe, 13 Dagnall (Scotland, 52), 16 Harewood, 23 Etuhu (O'Brien, 52)
Subs not used 30 Lidakevicius, 2 Hassell, 5 Delap, 32 Rose Attendance: 46,728

Referee Anthony Taylor
Assistant Referees: S Bennett and P Kirkup
Fourth Official C Foy