Both Manchester clubs enjoyed high-scoring victories against lower league oppositions during the fourth round. Fulham got off to a diabolical start at the Etihad Stadium as a clumsy challenge from Tim Ream within the opening 6 minutes awarded Manchester City an early penalty, with Ream receiving a red card for his challenge and Fulham going down to 10 men before the 10-minute mark. Ilkay Gundogan converted the penalty to give City an early lead before Bernardo Silva doubled City’s lead before half-time. A second-half brace from Gabriel Jesus put to bed any hope of a Fulham comeback and provided City with a 4-0 victory and a place in the fifth round.
Manchester United went into their tie against Tranmere Rovers in poor form a low confidence, as the Red Devils had lost their previous 2 games against Liverpool at Anfield and Burnley at Old Trafford, causing there to be mild doubt to whether United would get past the League 1 side. United, however, put to bed any chance of an FA Cup upset and opened the scoring through an unlikely source when Harry Maguire’s long-range strike put United 1-0 up, before Diogo Dalot scored his first goal for the club 3 minutes later. United kept their foot on the gas as goals from Jesse Lingard, Phil Jones and Anthony Martial gave United a 5-0 lead at half-time. A converted second-half penalty from Mason Greenwood increased United’s lead giving them a 6-0 victory at Prenton Park and a place in the fifth round.
