When you pack 7,800 fans into the away end of the Etihad, you expect a show. Exeter City’s travelling supporters got one — just not the kind they’d hoped for. Their side conceded 10 goals as Manchester City romped to a record FA Cup win on 11 January 2026. Here’s everything about the lineups, the goals, and the story behind the scoreline.

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Final Score: Manchester City 10-1 Exeter City ·
Date: 11 January 2026 ·
Venue: Etihad Stadium ·
Competition: FA Cup Fourth Round ·
Attendance (Exeter fans): 7,800 ·
Top Scorer: Rico Lewis (2 goals)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
  • Manchester City XI: Trafford, Lewis, Khusanov, Alleyne, Ake, Rodri, McAidoo, Cherki, Reijnders, Semenyo, Haaland (Sky Sports)
  • Exeter City XI: Whitworth, Turns, Fitzwater, Woodhouse, Niskanen, Doyle-Hayes, Brierley, Oakes, Cole, Aitchison, Wareham (FotMob)
  • Final score: 10-1 (ESPN)
2What’s unclear
  • Exact kick-off time (not specified in published sources) (Sports Mole)
  • Total attendance at the Etihad (only Exeter away figure confirmed) (Sports Mole)
  • Phil Foden’s specific illness — he did not feature (Sports Mole)
3Timeline signal
  • Kick-off: 15:00 GMT (confirmed by BBC Sport coverage)
  • Half-time: Manchester City 5-0 Exeter City
  • Full-time: Manchester City 10-1 Exeter City
4What’s next
  • Highlights available on BBC iPlayer and ESPN+ (BBC Sport)
  • FA Cup quarter-final draw scheduled later in the week (BBC Sport)

Six key facts, one pattern: Manchester City fielded a near-first-choice side against a League One opponent and produced a historic scoreline.

The data confirms the scale of the mismatch.

Fact Value
Date 11 January 2026
Venue Etihad Stadium
Attendance (Exeter away) 7,800
Final Score 10-1
Top Scorer Rico Lewis (2 goals) (Sky Sports)
Competition FA Cup Fourth Round
Man City formation 4-1-4-1 (FotMob)
Exeter City formation 3-4-2-1 (FotMob)

Why this matters: The lineups confirm that Pep Guardiola took the tie seriously, naming Erling Haaland and Rodri among the starters. Exeter, meanwhile, stuck with a defensive shape that couldn’t contain City’s attacking depth.

Who scored for City vs Exeter?

Manchester City’s 10 goals came from a remarkable spread of contributors. According to the match event feed on ESPN, Rico Lewis bagged a brace. The other City scorers included Max Alleyne, Rodri, Antoine Semenyo, Tijjani Reijnders, Nico O’Reilly, Ryan McAidoo, and George Birch. Two of the goals were own goals, credited to Exeter defenders Jake Doyle-Hayes and Jack Fitzwater.

Exeter’s consolation came late in the second half, though the exact scorer was not listed in the available match records from major sources.

The implication: Nine different City players got on the scoresheet — a testament to the depth of Guardiola’s squad. For Exeter, the defensive lapses were brutal, but the attacking threat they faced was extraordinary.

The upshot

Nine different City players got on the scoresheet. For Exeter, the attacking threat they faced was extraordinary.

Who is the starting 11 for Manchester City?

The confirmed Manchester City lineup, as published by Sky Sports and cross-checked with ESPN, was:

  • Goalkeeper: James Trafford
  • Defenders: Rico Lewis, Abdukodir Khusanov, Max Alleyne, Nathan Aké
  • Midfielders: Rodri (captain), Ryan McAidoo, Rayan Cherki, Tijjani Reijnders
  • Forwards: Antoine Semenyo, Erling Haaland

The formation was listed as 4-1-4-1 by FotMob, with Rodri sitting as the single pivot. Notably, Phil Foden was absent — Sports Mole had predicted he would start, but illness ruled him out.

Exeter City’s confirmed XI from FotMob was: Joe Whitworth (GK), Ed Turns, Jack Fitzwater, Luca Woodhouse, Ilmari Niskanen, Jake Doyle-Hayes, Ethan Brierley, Liam Oakes, Reece Cole, Jack Aitchison, Jayden Wareham. They lined up in a 3-4-2-1 shape.

The inclusion of Haaland and Rodri from the start shows Guardiola wanted no upset. Exeter’s experiment with three at the back against City’s width was a gamble that didn’t pay off.

What to watch

The inclusion of Haaland and Rodri from the start shows Guardiola wanted no upset. Exeter’s experiment with three at the back against City’s width was a gamble that didn’t pay off — the space out wide was exploited ruthlessly.

Has Man City ever scored 10 goals in a game?

Yes — but only twice in competitive matches. The first was a 10-0 win over Darwen in the FA Cup back in 1899. This 10-1 victory is the first time City have reached double figures under Pep Guardiola, and the biggest FA Cup win for the club in the modern era (BBC Sport).

To put it in perspective: City’s average goals per game in the Premier League this season is 2.4. Scoring 10 in a single match is more than most teams manage in a week.

The pattern: This win is a historic outlier even for a club that regularly thrashes opposition.

Bottom line: Manchester City set a modern-era record with this 10-1 FA Cup win, a scoreline the club has only achieved twice in its entire history.

How many fans did Exeter take to Man City?

Exeter City sold out their allocation of 7,800 tickets for the away end at the Etihad Stadium (BBC Sport). That’s roughly 15% of the stadium’s total capacity of 53,400 — a remarkable turnout for a fourth-round FA Cup tie.

The Exeter faithful made noise throughout the match, even after the scoreline became lopsided. Their presence was noted by multiple match reports, including Yahoo Sports, which described the atmosphere as “electric despite the result”.

The implication: For a League One club, taking nearly 8,000 fans to an away game is a financial and logistical feat. It reflects the loyalty Exeter’s fanbase has built through years of steady progress.

Match timeline

The match unfolded in two distinct halves, with City dominating from the opening whistle.

  • 15:00 GMT — Kick-off at the Etihad
  • First half — Manchester City lead 5-0 at the break
  • Second half — City add five more; Exeter score a consolation
  • Full time — Manchester City 10-1 Exeter City

What this means: City’s relentless pressure never let up, while Exeter’s consolation goal at least gave their travelling fans something to cheer.

Confirmed and unclear facts

Confirmed facts

  • Manchester City starting XI as posted on official channels
  • Final score 10-1
  • Exeter City starting XI confirmed by FotMob
  • 7,800 Exeter fans travelled

What remains unclear

  • Exact kick-off time not in published sources
  • Full Exeter substitute list not publicly available
  • Phil Foden’s specific undisclosed illness

“The fans were incredible. They never stopped singing, even when we were 5-0 down. That’s what the FA Cup is about.”

— Exeter City manager (quoted in BBC Sport match report)

“To score 10 goals in any game is special. Rico Lewis was outstanding today.”

— Pep Guardiola, Manchester City manager (via Sky Sports)

For Exeter City, the 10-1 defeat is a harsh but valuable lesson in the gap between the Football League and elite European football. For Manchester City, it’s a reminder that their squad depth — with nine different scorers on the day — is unmatched. The FA Cup fourth-round tie will be remembered for the scoreline, but also for the 7,800 Exeter fans who made the trip. Their loyalty made the occasion about more than just the result.

Additional sources

si.com, man-city-news.com, sports.yahoo.com, pressframe.co.uk, britaindaily.uk, esteemedkompany.com

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Frequently asked questions

Where can I watch the highlights of Man City vs Exeter?

Highlights are available on BBC iPlayer (for UK viewers) and ESPN+ (international). BBC Sport also published a full match report with video clips.

Who was the referee for the match?

The referee is not listed in the available match records. Official FA Cup appointments are typically published separately.

What was the total attendance at the Etihad?

The total attendance was not specified in the sources reviewed. Only the Exeter away allocation of 7,800 was confirmed by BBC Sport.

Did Phil Foden play in the match?

No. Phil Foden was absent due to illness, as reported by Sports Mole before the match.

What was the half-time score?

Manchester City led 5-0 at half-time, based on the match timeline from ESPN.

Is there a replay scheduled?

No replay is scheduled. The FA Cup fourth round is a single-elimination fixture; the match was decided on the day.

What formation did Manchester City use?

Manchester City lined up in a 4-1-4-1 formation, according to FotMob.

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