Manchester City Vs Exeter City Player Ratings: City Annihilate Exeter 10-1

It was a total dominance at the Etihad Stadium. Calling this an FA Cup tie almost feels misleading, because Manchester City didn’t just beat Exeter City, they dismantled them in a ruthless 10–1 rout. From the very first whistle, the gulf in quality was glaringly obvious, with City monopolising the ball, controlling territory, and forcing Exeter to chase shadows all evening.

It quickly turned into a one-way contest. City dominated possession, camped in Exeter’s half, and fired wave after wave of attacks, finishing the game with over 70% possession and more than 20 shots, many of them clear-cut chances. The floodgates opened early, and once they did, there was no stopping the blue tide. Even with a commanding lead, Pep Guardiola’s side showed no mercy, maintaining their tempo and intensity throughout the match.

The goals arrived relentlessly. Max Alleyne helped spark the rout, while Exeter’s misery deepened with two unfortunate own goals, summing up a night where nothing went right for the visitors. City’s attacking efficiency was reflected in the numbers, as they racked up double-digit shots on target and posted a dominant expected goals advantage, underlining just how one-sided the contest truly was.

The standout performer was unquestionably Rico Lewis. Operating with confidence and freedom, the young defender was everywhere, contributing goals, assists, and dictating play from deep. He looked completely unplayable and delivered a performance that felt like a future star announcing himself on the big stage. Exeter did manage a late consolation goal, a brief moment of relief for their travelling supporters, but it did little to change the narrative of a night defined by Manchester City’s sheer power, precision, and ruthless efficiency.

Here’s a look at the Manchester City vs Exeter City Player Ratings from this unforgettable FA Cup encounter.

Key Takeaways

• Total dominance in every phase: Manchester City controlled possession with 72% to Exeter’s 28%, highlighting a one-sided match from the start and allowing them to dictate the tempo throughout.

• High shot volume and quality: City registered 21 total shots compared to Exeter’s 7, with 10 shots on target, reflecting their overwhelming attacking pressure and ability to create clear scoring opportunities.

• Decisive expected goals advantage: The xG gap (2.29 for City vs. 0.62 for Exeter) underlines the difference in chance quality and justification for the large scoreline.

Manchester City Player Ratings vs Exeter City

Let's take a look at the Manchester City Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

James Trafford - 6.5: Had one of the quietest games of his life. He faced only a couple of shots. Made one good save. Couldn't do anything about the consolation goal. A spectator for most of this demolition job. He'll take the easy clean sheet that got away.

Defenders

Nathan Aké - 6.5: A very comfortable 45 minutes for the defender. He was solid and composed as always. He passed the ball with near-perfect accuracy. Got a well-deserved rest at halftime. Job done with no fuss whatsoever.

Abdukodir Khusanov - 8.0: What a machine. He had over 100 touches of the ball. His passing was crisp and incisive. Defensively, he was a rock, making three tackles and three interceptions. He dominated his area of the pitch completely. Looked like a seasoned veteran.

Max Alleyne - 8.5: He got the party started with the first goal. A fantastic finish for a defender. He was solid at the back for his 64 minutes on the pitch. Recovered the ball seven times and was a constant presence. A truly impressive display from the youngster.

Rico Lewis - 10: A perfect performance. There is no other word for it. Two goals, an assist, and created four chances. From our perspective, he was the best player on the pitch by a country mile. He ran the show from a defensive position, which is just incredible. The highest-rated player and an absolute superstar in the making.

Midfielders

Tijjani Reijnders - 8.0: Scored a lovely goal from distance. He just oozes class on the ball. He controlled the midfield effortlessly. His passing was intelligent and kept City moving forward. A very, very tidy performance from him.

Rayan Cherki - 8.0: The creative genius in the middle. He laid on an assist and could have had more. He was constantly on the ball, trying to make things happen. Yes, he lost possession a few times, but that's the price of being a risk-taker. He was a joy to watch.

Rodri - 8.0: The captain led by example for the 46 minutes he played. He scored a goal and completely dictated the tempo. Made everything look so simple. City are just a different team when he plays. Subbed at the half to keep him fresh.

Antoine Semenyo - 8.5: An electric performance for 64 minutes. He got a goal and an assist. His direct running caused absolute chaos for the Exeter defence. He was a constant threat and looked dangerous every time he touched the ball. What a player.

Forwards

Erling Haaland - 6.0: A surprisingly quiet half from the big man. He had a couple of shots saved but didn't manage to get on the scoresheet. It felt like he was playing in second gear. He was taken off at halftime, probably wondering how he didn't score.

Ryan McAidoo - 8.0: He was fantastic. Scored a goal and his dribbling was a nightmare for defenders. He was direct, energetic, and took his goal really well. A very exciting performance from him, always looking to attack. A bright future ahead.

Substitutes

No player stats were available for the substitutes.

Manager

Josep Guardiola - 9.5: A tactical masterclass. He picked a team with the perfect blend of youth and experience. They went out and executed his plan with ruthless precision. The team never let up, showing a winning mentality that starts from the top. A perfect day at the office for Pep.

Exeter City Player Ratings vs Manchester City

Goalkeeper

J. Whitworth - 3.0: A day he will want to forget immediately. Conceding ten goals is a goalkeeper's worst nightmare. In his defence, the players in front of him offered very little protection. He only made two saves all game. A brutal, brutal experience for the young keeper.

Defenders

Ed Turns - 4.5: He fought hard, you have to give him that. He won most of his duels and made four tackles. But he was part of a defence that was completely and utterly overwhelmed. He was just chasing shadows against City's fluid attack.

J. Fitzwater - 3.5: A complete nightmare of a match. Scoring an own goal and missing a big chance at the other end. He made seven clearances, which just shows how much pressure he was under. He was simply out of his depth today.

Luca Woodhouse - 4.0: Looked flustered and ended up with a yellow card. He was constantly being pulled out of position. He made a few tackles and clearances but it was a thankless task. A very tough day against world-class opposition.

Midfielders

Ethan Brierley - 6.0: One of the few Exeter players who can come away with some credit. To create three chances in a 10-1 defeat is genuinely impressive. His delivery from set pieces was excellent. A small bright spot on a very dark day.

I. Niskanen - 5.0: He ran his socks off. He made four interceptions and recovered the ball multiple times. But it was like trying to plug a dam with his finger. He worked tirelessly but was ultimately overrun by City's superior midfield.

Jake Doyle Hayes - 4.5: As the captain, this result will hurt him badly. He scored an unfortunate own goal which summed up their day. He did grab an assist for their goal, a small moment of redemption. He never stopped trying to pass the ball.

L. Oakes - 4.5: He missed a great chance early in the game. What could have been. He put in a defensive shift, tracking back constantly. But like the rest of his team, he spent the game chasing the ball. A difficult outing.

Forwards

Jayden Wareham - 4.0: He was completely isolated up front. He barely had a touch of the ball in his 46 minutes. The service to him was non-existent. It's tough to rate a striker who never had a chance to shine.

J. Aitchison - 4.5: Had one shot off target but was largely anonymous. He was forced to do more defending than attacking. A frustrating evening where he couldn't impact the game at all. Starved of service.

R. Cole - 5.0: The fact he made six ball recoveries tells you the story of his game. He spent more time as a defender than an attacker. He worked hard for the team, but it was a purely defensive effort.

Substitutes

No player stats were available for the substitutes.

Manager

G. Caldwell - 4.0: What could he do? His team came up against a juggernaut. The tactical plan went out the window after the first goal. The gulf in quality was just too vast to overcome. A harsh lesson for him and his team.

Man of the Match

Victor Osimhen was awarded Sportsdunia’s Player of the Match for his influential performance.

Worst Performer of the Match

Ramy Bensebaini was identified as the worst performer in the Manchester City vs Exeter City.