Jackson's comedy of errors lets Man City off the hook

Death, taxes and Wembley woe for Chelsea. Sorry, Mr Jackson, but you need to apologise a trillion times for this one. This is on you. A bruised and battered Manchester City were there for the taking, just as Liverpool were on the ropes two months ago. Once again, Chelsea weren’t just creating good chances but gilt-edged, match-deciding ones, with regularity.

- PETE HALL

Manchester City 1 

Silva (84)

Chelsea 0

Yet somehow, just as Liverpool escaped with a last-gasp winner in February’s Carabao Cup final heartache, against the run of play, Bernardo Silva stole in at the back post six minutes from time to send the FA Cup holders through to next month’s showpiece and keep City’s domestic double hopes alive.

For Chelsea and Nicolas Jackson particularly, their comedic season of woe that Amazon will be rueing the day they hadn’t sent their cameras along to capture is showing no sign of abating.

Getting to this stage of the competition has been a cakewalk for City in the Guardiola years, but the last four has been the madcap Catalan’s nemesis, compared to his all-conquering league and League Cup record.

From his previous six semi-finals in charge of City, Guardiola has only been able to guide his side to the final on two occasions, with three of their four last-four losses coming against London clubs.