Manchester City avenged their recent loss to Chelsea in the Premier League with a 2-0 home win that sent them into the quarter-finals of the FA Cup and kept alive City’s dreams of the quadruple.
As good as Chelsea were in the league match against City last week, they were the complete oppose today as City dominated the game from the off.
Stevan Jovetic put City ahead in the 16th minute, but it was Edin Dzeko who was the architect with a measured pass into the box for Jovetic, who shot went in via the base of the left-hand post.
In the second half substitute Samir Nasri wrapped up the win for Manuel Pellegrini’s side when he played a neat one-two with David Silva before prodding the ball into an unguarded net.
Wigan Athletic’s defence of the FA Cup remains on course after they beat Cardiff City 2-1 to reach the last eight.
Wigan took the lead in the 18th minute at the Cardiff City Stadium when Chris McMann converted a cross from Jordi Gomez, but the hosts levelled nine minutes later through Fraizer Campbell.
Watson notched what proved to be the winner five minutes before half-time, lashing home a thunderbolt from Marc-Antoine Fortune’s tapped free-kick to send Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Cardiff out of the competition.
Earlier, Craig Gardner scored a magnificent winning goal as Sunderland beat Southampton 1-0 to progress to the quarter-finals also.
After a low-key first half, Gardner illuminated proceedings in the 49th minute with a goal of shimmering quality, side-stepping Victor Wanyama and dispatching a 25-yard shot that crashed in off the bar.
Sunderland have already reached the Capital One Cup Final and are now one game away from reaching Wembley for the second time this season, and will be hoping for a good draw tomorrow.