City bowed out of the FA Cup after a gruelling 120 minutes and a tense penalty shootout at the Peninsula Stadium, with Salford progressing 4-2 on spot kicks.
Head coach Michael Skubala made five changes from the midweek line-up, including a recall for Adam Jackson after injury, with the defender partnering Ryley Towler at the heart of defence. Tom Hamer missed out with a groin issue, while Ivan Varfolomeev came into midfield alongside Conor McGrandles.
Further forward, Freddie Draper and Erik Ring both returned to the starting XI, with Ring playing wide right and Ben House leading the line. It was curiously close to my predicted starting XI, it’s almost as if I know what I’m talking about. Listeners at home also got someone who knows what they’re talking about – our very own Chris Laming was on the airwaves alongside John Helm on Imps+.
The League Two hosts, who have started their season strongly and sit third in the table, began brightly. It’s normally us getting off to a big start, but they forced the first real chance inside three minutes. Kallum Cesay struck fiercely through a crowd from 25 yards, forcing George Wickens into an excellent fingertip save over the bar. Moments later, Cesay’s dangerous cross almost picked out Kelly N’Mai, only for Towler to make an important defensive header.
Salford continued to threaten in the opening 20 minutes, with Wickens again called upon to block a close-range effort from former Imp Jorge Grant, who had combined neatly with N’Mai down the right. The early pressure eventually subsided as the Imps settled into rhythm, building from the back through McGrandles and Varfolomeev, who began to find space between the lines.
City’s first big opening came on 19 minutes when House turned his marker and drove a low shot towards goal, forcing Howard into a strong save with his left arm. Soon after, Draper showed good strength to hold off a defender and feed James Collins, whose effort was blocked by Haji Mnoga at the last moment. There was still an aura of concern about our lack of clinicality in front of goal.
The breakthrough came on 27 minutes and it was a fine individual goal from Stacey West Patreon sponsored Ring. Picking the ball up inside his own half from Tendayi Darikwa, the Swedish winger surged forward, beating multiple defenders before driving a powerful strike beyond Howard from the edge of the area. It was Ring’s first goal of the season and a moment of brilliance to silence the home crowd, and it was another moment for him to emerge in the FA Cup, as he did against Crawley last season.
The goal swung the pendulum in our favour, and we almost doubled our advantage before the break. Ring had another shot blocked by Curtis Cooper, while both House and Varfolomeev needed treatment after heavy challenges, the latter from Cesay, who was booked. From the resulting free-kick, Ring’s delivery found Draper at the far post, but the striker lifted his shot just over.
By half-time, City looked in control, with Reach and Towler both creating half-chances from corners. Draper’s physical presence unsettled Salford’s backline, and Rob Street, introduced on 37 minutes after House’s knock, caused problems down the right.
Second Half
The second half began evenly, with Adebola Oluwo clearing ahead of Collins and McGrandles firing wide from distance. Salford boss Karl Robinson reacted quickly, making a triple substitution just after the 50-minute mark, introducing Fabio Borini, Kadeem Harris and Dan Udoh to freshen the attack.
The changes helped the Ammies push higher up the pitch, and Wickens was again the hero on 55 minutes, beating away Elliot Butcher’s powerful free-kick from the edge of the box. City continued to defend resolutely, though, with Darikwa and Towler making vital interventions to stop N’Mai and Udoh as Salford grew in possession and belief.
As the second period developed, Skubala made changes of his own. Jackson and Ring were replaced by Sonny Bradley and Lewis Montsma to shore up the defence, while Bayliss and Obikwu came on later for Collins and Draper. The fresh legs helped City regain some balance, with McGrandles forcing another good save from Howard and Street seeing a close-range shot blocked.
At the other end, N’Mai briefly thought he had equalised when turning home Mnoga’s overhead kick, but the flag was up for offside. Borini went close from a free-kick, curling over the bar, while Howard denied Street from point-blank range in the 90th minute.
As the fourth official signalled four minutes of added time, it looked as though the Imps had done enough to hold on. But deep into stoppage time, Salford found a lifeline. Substitute Udoh battled down the right and squared for N’Mai, who slotted past Wickens to level in the dying seconds. The whistle blew moments later, sending the tie into extra time.
The hosts carried their momentum into the additional 30 minutes. N’Mai’s deflected strike was turned behind by Montsma before City regained composure, with Bayliss forcing a corner and Darikwa having the ball in the net only for an offside flag to cut short the celebrations.
Chances came and went at both ends. Obikwu’s low cross found Darikwa unmarked, but the skipper’s side-footed effort lacked power and was easily gathered by Howard. At the other end, Borini tested Wickens again after neat play from Udoh, but the keeper stood firm.
With legs tiring, City’s task became harder when Darikwa received a second yellow card for simulation on 116 minutes, leaving the Imps to finish extra-time with ten men. It looked harsh, and City can’t appeal as it was a second yellow. A furious Darikwa left the field, but City almost snatched it. Bayliss raced down the left before dragging his shot inches wide of the far post. In the final seconds, Montsma blocked a N’Mai effort onto the crossbar, and picky referee Steven Copeland blew for penalties.
The shootout proved decisive. Bayliss hit the bar and McGrandles saw his effort saved by Howard, with the Ammies not needing a fifth penalty to seal the win. The defeat ends our interest in the FA Cup run for another year, and it ensured we exited at the hands of a team from a lower division for the fourth time in five seasons (Hartlepool, Chippenham and Morecambe all also knocking us out).
My reaction piece will follow tomorrow.
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