Manchester City overcame a spirited Sheffield Wednesday to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals and stay on course for a domestic and European cup treble.
Fresh from their Carabao Cup triumph at Wembley, holders City moved into the last eight of the FA Cup as Sergio Aguero’s 23rd goal of the season saw off their Championship opponents at Hillsborough.
Up until the Argentine found the net with a strong left-foot finish, City had been frustrated by a stubborn Wednesday defensive performance.
Nicolas Otamendi and Benjamin Mendy both hit the bar when the tie was goalless yet City, who dominated possession, had to wait 48 minutes before they managed a shot on target.
Wednesday have endured a wretched run of form and although City keeper Claudio Bravo did not have a save to make, they at least ensured they were not embarrassed.
Aguero, who scored in the 2-1 Carabao Cup final win over Aston Villa on Sunday, has now scored 20 FA Cup goals in 22 ties since joining City in 2011.
A late Ricardo Pereira header secured Leicester City’s passage to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup as Brendan Rodgers’ side just about shrugged off their recent poor form to overcome a battling Birmingham side.
Leicester had gone nearly eight halves of football without a goal when their Portuguese right-back popped up eight minutes from time to direct Marc Albrighton’s cross into the far corner.
After a laboured first-half display in which City produced more worryingly tepid football, they cranked up the pressure in the second half, Jonny Evans and James Maddison going close before Ricardo made the breakthrough.
Birmingham, 13 unbeaten in all competitions, were showing their resilience again to threaten extra-time, but perseverance and quicker football tired the visitors out and allow City one golden chance, which they took to move into the last eight.
