City see off Wednesday at second attempt
City of Manchester stadium could see more Cup action this season
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Tuesday, 16, Jan 2007 10:22
Manchester City are through to the fourth round of the FA Cup after a 2-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday at Eastlands.
Stuart Pearce's men had to overcome a spirited Owls side whose performance belied their mid-table position in the Championship.
Chris Brunt and Marcus Tudgay had both threatened from long-range for the visitors in an evenly-contested first half, before Stephen Ireland put the Premiership team ahead just before the break.
There was a hint of offside as in-demand midfielder Joey Barton squared for his colleague to side-foot home, leaving Brian Laws' men heading down the tunnel behind.
Just six minutes after the break, parity was restored as Brunt's free-kick was flicked over Nicky Weaver and into the City net by the forehead of Lee Bullen.
Stung by the equaliser, City were quickly back on the front foot and Darius Vassell would have restored the lead just two minutes later but for an athletic stop from 'keeper Mark Crossley.
Vassell was not to be denied, however, burying Bernardo Corradi's 56th-minute with a sweetly-struck shot into the top corner.
Corradi should have made the game safe when Vassell returned the favour with a precise low cross following good work from Barton, but the Italian's attempted flick finish proved too elaborate and floated harmlessly wide.
A frenetic final ten minutes saw both sides come close to scoring with Tudgay passing up a couple of inviting openings for Wednesday and Georgios Samaras and Ireland nearly sealing City's win.