Manchester City took their third win straight away and that was all the better because the victims had such strong connections to Manchester United.

Salford City, owned by the Class of 92, David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Phil and Gary Neville, Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes, were always primed to be easy opponents and with 65 places between them and England’s champions they were Men by Karl Robinson tied to the side as if in an exhibition.

The victory was capped by Salford-born James McAtee’s hat-trick and Jack Grealish’s first goal in more than a year, as well as two from Jérémy Doku. His second penalty was a penalty in the 69th minute after his shot was deflected by Curtis Tilt. McAtee completed his hat-trick with a sharp finish after receiving Phil Foden’s practiced shot in the Salford penalty area, while his third was a predatory stab from a Grealish cross.

Towards the end, enthusiastic fans in the stands performed the Poznan game, which is only open for special moments.

With City’s confidence still lacking, they were delighted when Doku opened the scoring within 10 minutes. Ossama Ashley was Salford’s culprit, a misdirection allowing Matheus Nunes to steal the midfielder just before half-time. From here the Portuguese ran forward, scattering the red jerseys and his pass to the left to Grealish was as well timed as the No.10 himself’s transfer of the ball to Doku, whose first-time finish bounced off Matty Young’s left-hand post.

Salford were in damage control mode. A shot from Doku that sailed over the goal, Grealish’s snap shot that secured a corner, and the ensuing scuffle in front of goal, with Nathan Aké somehow missing, underlined this.

City’s deputy, source Divin Mubama, did the same on his debut. The 20-year-old new signing from West Ham in August, who was playing at number 9, burst in as Nunes and Savinho created a one-two. The former crossed from the right, allowing the Newham-born youngster an easy throw-in.

After six straight wins and eight wins in the last nine games, Robinson must have hoped for better. During a break in the game, he and his matchday assistant, Giggs, Salford’s director of football, chatted to some players. What could this braintrust offer: perhaps a request not to panic, and little else?

Like Liverpool in Saturday’s 4-0 win over Accrington Stanley in the third round, City ran in low gear, purring in and around the visitors and able to shift up a gear at will. And in an emergency, City’s bench, including Erling Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne, Foden and Josko Gvardiol, could be called upon.

There was almost a surprise when Aké missed a free kick wide of his goal, but Kylian Kouassi parried his effort from close range. Seconds later, Matty Lund was in, but instead of shooting, he turned and fed Kevin Berkoe, and he also failed to hit the ball cleanly.

In the posh seats, Butt and Scholes made an “ooh,” but consternation quickly followed. Nico O’Reilly, one of City’s three central defenders, was the initiator and executor. He fed Doku, kept moving and received the Belgian’s kickback in the penalty area. His coolly rolled finish was also a first city goal.

Things soon got ugly in the second half. Four minutes later a loose tilt back pass was collected by Mubama who found Grealish. Ashley knocked him down as he tried to shoot and referee Josh Smith awarded the penalty. Grealish confidently managed to score his first goal since December 16, 2023.

What greeted Salford next was the sight of Foden coming on for City while Savinho was substituted. As he likes to do, Pep Guardiola had a clear word with Grealish about some of the tactical nuances during the substitution.

Guardiola’s current mantra revolves around his unit still having “a lot of work” to do to regain its former supremacy. So it must have been unnerving to see McAtee swing a pass straight to a Salford man and O’Reilly leap into the air and miss a regulation header. Mubama was also overwhelmed by Tyrese Fornah, allowing a rare Salford advance.

But those were small things. City’s highly professional approach was evident in their fifth goal, scored by the deadly right-footed strike of McAtee, whose run into the box also impressed. And that was in the stands before City’s goal.