Man City’s Mahrez and Grealish break Peterborough resistance in FA Cup

The outcome was entirely predictable but Manchester City were given a game before passing to the FA Cup quarter-finals. Superb second-half goals from Riyad Mahrez and Jack Grealish saw off Championship strugglers Peterborough, who had feared greater punishment but had their moments.

The home side created a couple of presentable chances to complicate City’s task but will reflect survival is possible if they complete the season with this energy. Nobody went away too unhappy and there was also the touching sight of Oleksandr Zinchenko, City’s captain for the night, being given an ovation by all sides of the ground.

At the outset this bore the necessary ingredients for Cup theatre: first in the top flight against bottom of the second; a team of decorated internationals against opponents who were largely young, raw and full of running; a careworn, rutted pitch; tight stands and a boisterous, packed terrace of home fans behind one goal. There was an extra ingredient, though, that put everyone on the same page. Pep Guardiola had given Zinchenko the armband, saying the Ukrainian would “represent his country”, and the sentiment towards him and his compatriots before kick-off was heartfelt.

The entire stadium applauded when Zinchenko’s name was read out, while Peterborough’s mascot ran around the pitch bearing a Ukraine flag. The same blue and yellow standard could be seen waving in sections of the away end, and another was carried onto the pitch by Zinchenko and the home captain, Frankie Kent.

Zinchenko took City’s first two shots of the game but both, aimed with his right foot, were too high. Mahrez ballooned behind from a favourable position on the right, possibly hindered by the surface, and while City’s possession share was