It has, for Manchester City's extremely high standards, been a season to forget. For the first time in five years there will be no Premier League title - and their Champions League dream is already over too.
But there could yet be light at the end of the tunnel, with Pep Guardiola's men coming from behind to beat Bournemouth 2-1 on Sunday to keep their dream of FA Cup glory alive.
City have won this competition twice since Guardiola replaced Manuel Pellegrini all the way back in 2016.
And though Crystal Palace, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest all remain in the hunt, it is the defending Premier League champions who are the favourites to go all the way.
Man City have beaten Bournemouth 2-1 to keep their dreams of FA Cup glory alive
REUTERS
City had a golden chance to open the scoring in the 14th minute when a penalty was awarded following a handball from Tyler Adams.
Erling Haaland predictably stepped up, with the net expected to bulge.
Yet that didn't happen, with the Norway international seeing his tame effort saved by Kepa Arrizabalaga in the Bournemouth goal.
Just seven minutes later and Guardiola's men fell behind.
Evanilson, who has gone strength to strength since arriving as a replacement for Tottenham's Dominic Solanke, managed to prod home from close range after some brilliant work from Justin Kluivert.
With City's day going from bad to worse, some were expecting them to collapse.
Man City fell behind against Bournemouth in the FA Cup when Evanilson opened the scoring
REUTERS
The defiance that has seen them break record after record in English football has somewhat seeped out of them this season, despite their obvious quality.
But Haaland, and City, are made of stronger stuff than that.
Haaland made amends for his penalty miss just four minutes after the restart, with the former Borussia Dortmund star converting following a fine delivery from Nico O'Reilly.
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From that moment on, City appeared more like their usual selves.
Though the Bournemouth crowd were cheering their team on, it was to little avail with Omar Marmoush giving City the lead in the 63rd minute.
Out of all of City's January signings, it is the Egypt international who has instantly made himself at home in his new surroundings.
Man City hitman Erling Haaland equalised against Bournemouth after missing a penalty earlier in the match
REUTERS
His goal, in the end, was the winning one.
And though City have endured a campaign to forget, they've still got a strong chance of ending the season with a trophy to their name.
City will now face Nottingham Forest in the semi-finals, while Palace and Villa will go to war with a second day at Wembley at stake.
