Match ends, Manchester City 2, Sheffield Wednesday 1.
Man CityManchester City2Sheff WedSheffield Wednesday1
- Milner scores twice on his 29th birthday
- Toure's last game before Africa Cup of Nations
- Wednesday knocked out of both cups by City this season
James Milner scored an injury-time winner as his brace helped Manchester City come from behind to beat Sheffield Wednesday in the FA Cup third round.
Atdhe Nuhiu put the Owls into the lead when he swept home Stevie May's pass.
City failed to register a shot on target for more than an hour until Milner equalised by sliding the ball through the keeper's legs.
Milner, playing in an advanced striking role, completed the win from close range in injury time.
While England international Milner took the headlines on his 29th birthday, it was a double substitution that changed the course of the game.
The 2011 winners had looked short of invention until the introduction of both David Silva and Samir Nasri in a second-half switch that turned the game in City's favour.
Muscular striker Nuhiu opened the scoring after 14 minutes when he fired home at the end of a flowing move down the right that also involved May and Kieran Lee.
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Championship side Wednesday, who were beaten 7-0 at the Etihad Stadium in the Capital One Cup in September, then allowed City to dominate possession without getting a true sight of Chris Kirkland's goal.
However, the hosts equalised almost immediately after sending on their two playmakers Silva and Nasri, with the pair linking up on the left of the Owls' box and playing in Milner to convert his second goal of the season.
Manuel Pellegrini's men took control from that point and Milner shot wide, while Silva had an effort well saved as the Premier League side desperately looked to avoid a replay.
They got their wish a minute into stoppage time when Jesus Navas played the ball across the box and Milner nipped in front of his marker to tap into an empty net.
Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini:
"We didn't play well at all today and I think the motivation between the two sides was quite different. We played very badly. We didn't play in the way we normally do and we didn't keep the ball or have enough possession.
"It was the same today as it was in cup ties over the last year at home against Watford, Wigan and Newcastle where we failed to get going quick enough.
"But one of the most pleasing things about the way we have played in the last month is we have continued winning, even without any recognised strikers. Playing the way we have, we've still been able to score goals."
Sheffield Wednesday manager Stuart Gray:
"It's a sickener. Once we got our noses in front we knew we could frustrate them and hit them on the break. They had to put David Silva and Samir Nasri on and they had to chase the game.
"We made a talented team play to the max. We deserved the lead and Manchester City ended up giving us the ultimate respect. I always say have a look at what players ended the game, rather than started it."
Line-ups
Man City
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 13Caballero
- 3Sagna
- 38Boyata
- 20Mangala
- 11KolarovSubstituted forClichyat 75'minutes
- 42Y Touré
- 6Reges
- 15Navas
- 18LampardSubstituted forSilvaat 61'minutes
- 7Milner
- 35JoveticSubstituted forNasriat 61'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Hart
- 8Nasri
- 21Silva
- 22Clichy
- 25Fernandinho
- 26Demichelis
- 59Celina
Sheff Wed
Formation 4-4-2
- 43Kirkland
- 8PalmerBooked at 45mins
- 15Lees
- 5Loovens
- 35DielnaSubstituted forMcCabeat 85'minutes
- 19Maghoma
- 6Semedo
- 20Lee
- 17Helan
- 7MaySubstituted forLaveryat 66'minutes
- 9NuhiuSubstituted forMaguireat 75'minutes
Substitutes
- 10Maguire
- 13Lavery
- 16McCabe
- 21Corry
- 25Young
- 26De Havilland
- 30Dawson
- Referee:
- Michael Oliver
- Attendance:
- 44,309
Match Stats
Home TeamMan CityAway TeamSheff Wed
- Possession
- Home72%
- Away28%
- Shots
- Home19
- Away6
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away2
- Corners
- Home10
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home7
- Away13
Live Text
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Full Time
Second Half ends, Manchester City 2, Sheffield Wednesday 1.
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Attempt blocked. Jesús Navas (Manchester City) right footed shot from long range on the right is blocked. Assisted by David Silva.
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Corner, Sheffield Wednesday. Conceded by Gaël Clichy.
Goal!
Goal! Manchester City 2, Sheffield Wednesday 1. James Milner (Manchester City) left footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal. Assisted by David Silva.
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Attempt blocked. David Silva (Manchester City) left footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is blocked. Assisted by Jesús Navas.
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Attempt blocked. Yaya Touré (Manchester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Samir Nasri.
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Attempt saved. David Silva (Manchester City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Samir Nasri.
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Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Chris Maguire.
Substitution
Substitution, Sheffield Wednesday. Rhys McCabe replaces Claude Dielna.
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Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Glenn Loovens.
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Foul by Fernando (Manchester City).
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Jacques Maghoma (Sheffield Wednesday) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt missed. Yaya Touré (Manchester City) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by James Milner.
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Yaya Touré (Manchester City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Josè Semedo (Sheffield Wednesday).
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Attempt missed. Claude Dielna (Sheffield Wednesday) left footed shot from long range on the left misses to the left. Assisted by Jeremy Helan.
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Corner, Sheffield Wednesday. Conceded by Jesús Navas.
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Attempt blocked. Jacques Maghoma (Sheffield Wednesday) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jeremy Helan.
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Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Glenn Loovens.
