Manchester City 10-1 Exeter City: Pep Guardiola's side hit double figures in FA Cup third-round romp - but what are the biggest margins of victory?

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Manchester City delivered the FA Cup's most emphatic result in 66 years, sweeping aside Exeter City in a one-sided demolition which had observers reaching for the record books. During the competition's illustrious history, you have to go back to February 1960 for the last time a team reached double figures - when Tottenham Hotspur beat Crewe 13-2 - so what have been the biggest margins of victory?

Highlights: Man City hit TEN past Exeter as Semenyo enjoys dream debut

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The only surprise was that Erling Haaland's name was not on the scoresheet.

After Wrexham's pulsating shootout victory over Nottingham Forest, followed up swiftly by arguably the greatest Emirates FA Cup upset of all time as Macclesfield knocked out holders Crystal Palace, Pep Guardiola was taking absolutely no chances as Exeter City were dispatched 10-1 at the Etihad Stadium.

Three Premier League draws in a row had sharpened the minds as Guardiola selected a strong team, with only Phil Foden afforded a rest after recently looking jaded from the festive schedule. Last season, City put eight past Salford City at this stage of the competition.

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They went two better on Saturday, and with nine different goalscorers. Antoine Semenyo marked his debut with a goal and an assist. Rico Lewis - who took over captaincy duties after Rodri was withdrawn - was the only player to hit a brace, but does City's ruthless display come close to being among the most one-sided contests in FA Cup history?

Lewis scored two of Man City's 10 against Exeter on Saturday

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Remarkably, it was Exeter who might have broken the deadlock when Liam Oakes' header from a corner was tipped over by City goalkeeper James Trafford.

There was very little else for the 7,800 travelling Grecians to shout about, however. According to Opta, the landslide victory is the eighth-biggest margin of success in City's history - and 66th time a team has scored 10+ goals in a competitive English fixture - but it still falls some way short of the most handsome wins in FA Cup folklore.

Preston North End still hold the record, and it is one that is unlikely to be broken after Hyde were thrashed 26-0 in October 1887.

That said, City's victory over League One Exeter was the biggest from a top-flight club in the competition since February 1960, when Tottenham Hotspur beat Crewe 13-2 in a fourth-round replay.

Biggest FA Cup wins

Date	Team	Opponent	Score
15/10/1887	Preston North End	Hyde	26-0
27/01/1894	Preston North End	Reading	18-0
31/10/1874	Wanderers	Farningham	16-0
10/11/1875	Royal Engineers	High Wycombe	15-0
13/11/1880	Clapham Rovers	Finchley	15-0
05/03/1881	Darwen	Romford	15-0
01/12/1883	Queen's Park (Glasgow)	Manchester	15-0
24/10/1885	Notts County	Rotherham Town	15-0

The 19th Century saw the biggest margins of victory in the FA Cup, with Preston North End boasting the two most emphatic, according to the record books.

Biggest Man City wins

Competition	Date	Opponent	Score
Division Two	18/02/1899	Darwen	10-0
Division Two	16/04/1898	Burton Swifts	9-0
Division Two	28/02/1903	Gainsborough Trinity	9-0
FA Cup	29/01/1930	Swindon Town	10-1
FA Cup	18/01/1933	Gateshead AFC	9-0
Division Two	07/11/1987	Huddersfield Town	10-1
League Cup	09/01/2019	Burton Albion	9-0
FA Cup	10/01/2026	Exeter City	10-1

Guardiola has overseen plenty of heavy City wins during his time as manager, including a 9-0 victory over Burton Albion in the League Cup in January 2019.

Highest scoring FA Cup games

Date	Team	Opponent	Score
15/10/1887	Preston North End	Hyde	26-0
27/01/1894	Preston North End	Reading	18-0
31/10/1874	Wanderers	Farningham	16-0
10/11/1875	Royal Engineers	High Wycombe	15-0
13/11/1880	Clapham Rovers	Finchley	15-0
05/03/1881	Darwen	Romford	15-0
01/12/1883	Queen's Park (Glasgow)	Manchester	15-0
24/10/1885	Notts County	Rotherham Town	15-0
03/02/1960	Tottenham Hotspur	Crewe Alexandra	13-2
20/02/1926	Manchester City	Crystal Palace	11-4

Wrexham's encounter with Nottingham Forest on Friday night was a high-scoring game, but nowhere near as eventful as the goal gluts witnessed in bygone years when defending certainly was not the order of the day.

Stats and information courtesy of Opta

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