By Victor Kanayo
Manchester City have now convincingly beaten Chelsea in two consecutive matches after Pep Guardiola side humiliated their visitors 4-0 on Sunday night in the FA Cup third tie inside Etihad stadium.
The visiting players warmed up in No. 9 shirts in tribute to the late, great Gianluca Vialli ahead of kick off but could not muster a performance to match the gesture.
With the result, City cruised to fourth round, where they face either Arsenal or Oxford FC between January 27 and 30, 2023 when the fixtures rolled out earlier on Sunday January 8, will take place.
Before then, City will face Southampton in the EFL Cup on Wednesday before taking on neighbours Man United at Old Trafford in the Premier League on Saturday.
For struggling Chelsea, they have a trip to Fulham in the league on Thursday.
Meanwhile, League Two club Stevenage scored twice in the final two minutes of normal time to cause a stunning FA Cup upset against Aston Villa on Sunday.
Emery’s men appeared to be edging into the fourth round thanks to Morgan Sanson’s first-half strike, before Leander Dendoncker was sent off for holding back substitute Dean Campbell inside the box after a dreadful error.
Fellow sub Jamie Reid despatched the penalty and then Campbell himself struck the winner after Villa went to sleep at a corner.
The travelling supporters could barely believe it as they celebrated wildly, as Villa were booed off after their eighth straight defeat in this competition.
Stevenage will travel to Stoke in the fourth round after much-travelled boss Steve Evans masterminded one of the greatest results in their history.
Stevenage have caused problems for top flight teams in this competition before, beating Newcastle at this stage in 2011 – 13 years after taking them to a replay – and also forcing Tottenham into a second game at White Hart Lane in 2012.
