“When you play against someone like that, if they’re gonna take their chances, it’s gonna be a heavy defeat.”
20:28, 10 Jan 2026Updated 20:31, 10 Jan 2026
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Exeter City striker Josh Magennis admitted the Grecians were given a brutal lesson in ‘relentless’ efficiency after Manchester City clinically dismantled them in a historic 10-1 defeat.
The Grecians exited the FA Cup at the third round after Pep Guardiola’s side went for the kill as they matched their record victory, and gave Exeter a worst ever defeat.
But the 7,800 Grecians fans had their moment in the 89th minute when teenager George Birch, on off the bench, smashed home his first senior goal from 25 yards to the delight of the travelling hoards.
“Just coming away from the game, we just didn’t realise just how relentless they were,” he admitted. “They were very efficient in how they played today and they didn’t miss any chances. When you play against someone like that, if they’re gonna take their chances, it’s gonna be a heavy defeat.”
“You see the score line of 10-1 one, it’s hard to try and take any positive, and there’s obviously stuff we need to work on. I think, even though we were heavily defeated, I think some of the goals we gifted.
“But if you give those types of players those opportunities, nine times out of ten, they score, so it’ll be a tough one to take us. You can’t say you’re going to take any positives after getting 10-1. But I’m sure when we get back to the drawing board, come next week, when we’re going into Stevenage, there’ll be something to take from the game.
“Everyone wants to play at the highest possible level of the Premier League and there’s a lot of sacrifices to be able to play at that level, and it’s just trying to be consistent as you can, you know, control the controllables. It’s all the cliches, but to try and be able to do that on a consistent basis is why these players are at this level.
“So to try to emulate that or to try and hold onto their coattails is a no mean feat. So for the young lads who played, just got to use that as confidence rather than being playing one game, good game in every five., it’s hopefully playing four games in every five.”
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – JANUARY 10: Josh Magennis of Exeter City reacts after his side concede a tenth goal during the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Manchester City and Exeter City on January 10, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images)(Image: Getty Images)
It took 11 minutes for Man City to take the lead. It was scrappy and from a set piece as Max Alleyne’s finish just had enough power to squeeze in off the post.
Midway through the first half it was two. There was nothing City could do about it as the ball broke to Rodri 30 yards from goal and the Spaniard lashed in a first time strike which clipped the inside of the post.
Nathan Ake – albeit he knew nothing about it – when a clearance from a corner hit him and trickled in made it 3-0. And it was 4-0 at half-time when Jack Fitzwater in attempting to clear a cross could only divert it into his own net.
Rico Lewis made it five moments into the second half as City had no intention of taking their foot off the gas. Antoine Semenyo on his debut then made it six with a smart finish as the goals kept coming.
Tijani Reijnders made it seven when he curled in from the edge of the area to extend the misery for the visitors. Nico O’Reilly made it eight when he headed home from a corner with still ten minutes to go. And then Ryan McAidoo made it nine with still three minutes to go when the youngster smashed home from the edge of the box.
But the travelling fans had their moment in the 90th minute when George Birch strode forward and from 25 yards smashed a strike into the top corner to make it 9-1. The joy lasted only seconds though as straight from kick-off, City went forward, and Lewis scored his second.
(Image: PA)
“Football’s all about moments,” Magennis said of the goal. “Birchy done that today. It was a fantastic strike, I think it would have beaten any goalkeeper at any stadium. For him to come on and take that moment is absolutely outstanding. Hopefully, he can take that form and confidence forward as an asset into the later stage of the season.
“It’s a shame it ended like this, but it’s good to go back into the league now, where our bread and butter is,” the veteran striker, back from an ankle injury said.
“Maybe a few people watched the score and thought we were worse off than what we are, but we’re not at all. We’re a good outfit, we’re well-drilled, we know what we are, and we are a threat for anyone in our league and we are looking forward to that game.”