In an unexpected sort of way, conceding an early goal in their FA Cup fourth-round tie was possibly the best thing that could have happened to Manchester City.
The ball had barely nestled in the back of Zack Steffen's net after leaving the left boot of Fulham's Fabio Carvalho when the City faithful burst into an unusually early song.
"We never win at home and we never win away" rang out around the Etihad Stadium, a typically self-deprecating City song often sang regardless of the score. However, it is not one usually heard during the early rounds of cup competitions, nor is the sound of thousands of fans singing in unison.
