---
title: "Manchester City: Fans laud defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis after Oxford United display"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/manchester-city-fans-laud-defender-taylor-harwood-bellis-after-oxford-united-display/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Emilio Galantini"
section: "Manchester City Football Club"
published: "2019-12-19T21:40:52Z"
modified: "2019-12-19T21:40:52Z"
---

# Manchester City: Fans laud defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis after Oxford United display

**Manchester City sailed through to the Carabao Cup semi-finals last night after they eventually [got past Oxford United 3-1](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZilrrPVAyA&feature=onebox) at the Kassam Stadium, but one unlikely man particularly caught the eye of supporters after a seemingly composed outing.**

Joao Cancelo’s deflected strike and Raheem Sterling’s brace sealed a semi-final draw for the Sky Blues despite opposition striker Matty Taylor briefly equalising for the hosts, with bitter rivals Manchester United [awaiting them in the next round](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50842354) for a tense two-legged tie.

However, despite the usual heroes[grabbing deserved headlines,](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50738362) young defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis has also captured the admiration of supporters with his composed showing.

The 17-year-old amassed a brilliant 97% pass success rate [according to WhoScored.com](https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1432284/Live/England-League-Cup-2019-2020-Oxford-Manchester-City), and despite being slightly at fault for the [equalising goal](https://twitter.com/BBCSport/status/1207402819818598401), supporters have flocked to praise him for his efforts.

Harwood-Bellis partnered fellow academy defender Eric Garcia for Pep Guardiola’s side on Wednesday evening, but supporters had nothing but praise for the Englishman.

Here’s what they had to say.

> Better than stones and otamendi
>
> — marek gucciano 1️⃣7️⃣ ⛵ (@LeRoiSan3) [December 18, 2019](https://twitter.com/LeRoiSan3/status/1207417515095339012?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> The future👍
>
> — Herschel Watts (@HerschelWatts4) [December 18, 2019](https://twitter.com/HerschelWatts4/status/1207417484275372032?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> [@ManCity](https://twitter.com/ManCity?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) next [@VincentKompany](https://twitter.com/VincentKompany?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
>
> — Danielle (@Xxdanielle2011) [December 18, 2019](https://twitter.com/Xxdanielle2011/status/1207417933355528193?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> And only 17 fair play
>
> — Ian Hughes (@mace0703) [December 19, 2019](https://twitter.com/mace0703/status/1207538507834634240?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Pep after playing Otamendi or Stones over him [pic.twitter.com/h2FMsJNNiQ](https://t.co/h2FMsJNNiQ)
>
> — Bes (@Beseleelb) [December 18, 2019](https://twitter.com/Beseleelb/status/1207417831761035269?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Good to See RAZ give his award to T Harwood-Bellis , he was as right , never missed a tackle won every header .\
> From a “pundit “ Andy Hinchcliffe to give it to the Goalscorer … easy Cop out .
>
> — Al Wilkinson (@albowilko) [December 18, 2019](https://twitter.com/albowilko/status/1207419753406566402?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

[***Watch Wolves vs Manchester City live on Prime on December 27th!***](https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/video/offers/ref=acph_piv?&tag=ffc0e-21)