Manchester City 3-1 Plymouth Argyle: O'Reilly brace prevents FA Cup upset

Manchester City survived an almighty FA Cup scare as they came from a goal down to beat Plymouth Agyle 3-1, with youngster Nico O'Reilly netting a brace.

Maksym Talovierov had given the Championship strugglers a shock lead in the first half, but a relentless wave of pressure eventually told as City advanced to the quarter-finals. 

As expected, City dominated the opening stages, with Ilkay Gundogan's header from Bernardo Silva's inch-perfect delivery brilliantly saved by Conor Hazard from close range. 

Gundogan was again involved for the hosts moments later, striking the post with a left-footed effort. But the 8,000 travelling Argyle supporters were sent into raptures in the 38th minute. 

From their first corner of the contest, Talovierov rose highest to glance Matthew Sorinola's set-piece beyond the grasp of Stefan Ortega as the Championship strugglers looked to write another page in the competition's historic storybook. 

City continued to probe for a leveller, with Vitor Reis heading narrowly wide from close range before Hazard got his fingertips to Kevin De Bruyne's low drive, but the visiting goalkeeper would have hoped to do better for the hosts' equaliser. 

O'Reilly nodded De Bruyne's free-kick into the bottom-left corner with the aid of a touch from Hazard on the stroke of half-time, with Pep Guardiola's side knocking on the door for the remainder of the contest. 

They completed the turnaround when Phil Foden's set-piece was met by a towering header from O'Reilly, before De Bruyne sealed City's progression to the final eight in the 90th minute after being teed up by Erling Haaland inside the box. 

Data Debrief: Calls for concern for Guardiola

The FA Cup remains Guardiola's only chance of silverware this season, but that did not stop him from making 11 changes to his side to face Plymouth. Though they got the job done, City had to come from behind to do so. 

City have now conceded the first goal in 19 games this season in all competitions, their joint-most in a campaign under Guardiola (also 19 in 2016-17), while their 63 goals conceded is the most they have shipped in a season under the Spaniard.

However, City have now won 15 consecutive home games in the FA Cup since a fourth-round 2-0 defeat to Middlesbrough in January 2015, their longest ever run in the competition and the longest winning home run since Liverpool in January 1955 (16 games).

But their win was inspired by O'Reilly, who, at 19 years and 345 days, became the youngest player to score a brace for Man City in all competitions since Foden (18yrs 264d) against Newport County, also in the FA Cup, in February 2019.