AGUERO AND SILVA SEND CITY INTO EMIRATES FA CUP SEMI-FINAL

Sergio Aguero and David Silva were on target for Manchester City at the Riverside Stadium

Pablo Zabaleta believes Manchester city’s miserly defence was the key as they comfortably downed Middlesbrough to reach The Emirates FA Cup semi-finals for the first time since 2013.

David Silva fired home from close-range in the early stages before Sergio Aguero booked City’s place in Monday’s draw after the break.

Boro’s woes in front of goal – they have failed to score in seven of their 10 Premier League games since Christmas – continued but the Citizens have now kept six successive away clean sheets as Pep Guardiola moves closer to a trophy in his first season at the club.

The visitors would have won by more if not for an inspired Brad Guzan in the Middlebrough goal but defender Zabaleta was happy with the manner of the triumph.

“It’s never easy – this a tough place to come and get a result, we know that,” said the Argentine.

“They are a very physical team but dangerous from crosses. I thought we were solid at the back and were dangerous going forward.

“We should have scored a few more goals because we created a lot of chances, but we were the better team and deserved to go through.

“You have to be ready to defend crosses and deal with those long balls at the back. We did that well.”

City went ahead after just three minutes as Zableta found space on the right and although Raheem Sterling could not connect with his ball across the box, Silva slammed home from six yards – taking the Spaniard’s tally to two goals and three assists in his last five FA Cup games.

The visitors looked the more likely to find the net again during the first half as Leroy Sane scuffed a shot straight at Guzan, the Boro stopper repelled a Silva effort and Yaya Toure powered a near-post header wide.

But the hosts did almost nick an equaliser midway through the first period as Rudy Gestede headed goalwards and Claudio Bravo fumbled, but Zabaleta cleared off the line.

After the break, Guzan continued to frustrate the Citizens as he tipped Aguero’s flick on to the post and palmed 20-yard strikes from Silva and Sane wide.

However, Aguero eventually breached the American’s defences on 67 minutes by nipping in front of a defender and steering home Sane’s perfect low cross from six yards.

Boro almost set up a grandstand finish as Fabio’s 80th-minute header was goalbound until John Stones slid clear but City held on, although Sane knows the margin of victory should have been greater.

“We had a lot of chances to score,” he admitted.

“I had a lot chances to make it 3-0 and David [Silva] did as well. If we score it’s easier for us to play our game.

“I’m enjoying playing with Sergio [Aguero] – he’s a great player and it is fun to play alongside him.”

Middlesbrough: (4-3-3): 12 Brad Guzan; 2 Fabio, 5 Bernardo, 6 Ben Gibson, 17 Antonio Barragan; 7 Grant Leadbitter, 8 Adam Clayton, 14 Marten De Roon; 18 Cristhian Stuani, 29 Rudy Gestede, 37 Adama Traore
Substitutes: 10 Alvaro Negredo for Gestede 26, 22 Dael Fry for Bernardo 50, 21 Gaston Ramirez for Leadbitter 66
Substitutes not used: 26 Victor Valdes, 40 James Husband, 34 Adam Forshaw, 11 Viktor Fischer

Manager: Aitor Karanka

Manchester City: (4-1-4-1): 1 Claudio Bravo; 5 Pablo Zabaleta, 24 John Stones, 30 Nicolas Otamendi, 22 Gael Clichy; 42 Yaya Toure; 7 Raheem Sterling, 17 Kevin De Bruyne, 21 David Silva, 19 Leroy Sane; 10 Sergio Aguero
Substitutes: 9 Nolito for Sane 67, 6 Fernando for Toure 86, 72 Kelechi Iheanacho for Aguero 90
Substitutes not used: 13 Willy Caballero, 11 Aleksandar Kolarov, 25 Fernandinho, 18 Fabian Delph

Manager: Pep Guardiola

Goals: Silva 3, Aguero 67

Referee: Mike Dean
Attendance: 32,228

**http://www.thefa.com/home/news/2017/mar/11/middlesbrough-v-manchester-city-report-110317