Despite late Hornets’ sting, City prepare for Chelsea with away win

Watford 1 : 2  Manchester City

Leroy Sane unlocked a stubborn Watford defence just before half time to secure the Citizens another three points on their inexorable march to the EPL title. His provider, Riyad Mahrez, turned scorer just after the break to double the lead before Abdoulaye Doucouré scored a consolation for Watford.

City had to survive an uncomfortable ending but held on to win their seventh successive league game despite a brief glimpse at their mortality at the end.

City had won 5-0 and 6-0 on their last two visits to Hertfordshire and were seeking their seventh straight Premier League victory as well as their seventh straight win over Watford who were looking for a first win in five fixtures.

Nathaniel Chalobah, Christian Kabasele and Troy Deeney came in for Adrian Mariappa, Gerard Deulofeu and Etienne Capoue (suspended) whose appeal against a red card had not been successful in Watford’s starting line up. Only Adalberto Penaranda (foot) was absent for Watford but City were missing a catalogue of world talent.

Kevin De Bruyne, Benjamin Mendy, and Eliaquim Mangala all had knee problems. Claudio Bravo was nursing an Achilles. Sergio Aguero (unspecified muscle problem) and Oleksandr Zinchenko (nose) both faced late fitness tests but didn’t even make the bench.

Match Preview: Watford looking to avoid third consecutive hammering at hands of Pep

Watford started reasonably brightly refusing to stand back and admire City, perhaps on the grounds that there’d be plenty of time for that later. The Hornets’ Ben Foster was the first of the keepers into action when he denied Sane with a superbly timed dash off his line and block. His colleagues dealt as professionally with the subsequent corner. He also dived very bravely at Mahrez’s feet, following it up with a second save from Bernardo Silva.

Watford did not help themselves with Fulham-style constant giveaways of possession but reached the 30 minute mark far more comfortably than many of City’s more recent opponents, albeit with the concession of five corners and 72% of possession.

City were a little below their best, too often pumping balls into the Watford six yard area for Foster to clasp comfortably. John Stones headed the sixth corner well wide just after that half hour mark. A minute later Deeney produced Watford’s best moment thus far but Ederson foiled him with an outstretched left leg.

Just before the 40′ mark, Manchester City finally took the lead.

Mahrez crossed in from the right and Sane reacted first before Kiko leaving Foster in no man’s land, the German striker finally finishing with his chest after a ricochet off the unprotected goalkeeper. It was his third goal in the last two away games.

Gentle rain welcomed the sides out after the interval with Watford hoping to avoid a third successive deluge. That forecast became gloomier when Mahrez rifled home City’s second after receiving a cross from Gabriel Jesus. The move followed Isaac Success committing another unforgivable Watford giveaway inside their own half.

City continued to probe albeit without any real alacrity or urgency. Given that they controlled the ball for over 7/10 of the first hour, their patience was understandable.

Ben Foster saves from Riyad Mahrez in the first half at Vicarage Road
Photo: Premier League

Kabasele was lucky to escape conceding a penalty for handball although even with 30 minutes to go, it seemed unlikely to affect the destination of the points.

Watford were by now being given plenty of time to admire City who were passing the ball about like they were raising money for the Save the Children Fund on a sponsored passathon. They reached their 500th pass of the game before Watford had even reached 200.

The chances continue to halteringly flow. Jesus shot wide when put through by Mahrez, with Foster’s positioning once more highly creditable, after Delofeu trod on the ball.

Pep Guardiola seemed to have his thoughts on the upcoming fixture with Chelsea as he removed David Silva early, giving Ilkay Gündogan 18 minutes playing time. Nicolas Otamendi made his 100th City appearance after coming on for Vincent Kompany for the last seven minutes.

Deeney neatly set up Doucouré, whose effort was too close to Ederson in the City goal and Mahrez drew one more save from Foster.

Then came a moment nobody expected, a Watford goal. A Deulofeu cross caused a scramble and Doucouré scored at the third attempt after a scramble with five minutes left. City keeper Ederson had to save a Deeney effort as the Hornets pressed for an unlikely point.

That Guardiola was a little concerned was illustrated by a relative rarity, a time wasting substitution from him – Aymeric Laporte coming on to lock up the game. Ederson was also booked for time wasting, something he has had little cause to do hitherto this season.

The home side pressured City in the four added minutes, winning a couple of corners as Foster stayed upfield. The clock and perhaps just a little dose of reality beat them.

Watford have till Monday to lick their wounds or draw comfort from their finish when they visit Everton in a clash of the teams who run out to the Z Cars theme tune, with just two points between them and the Toffees.

City will face a tougher test of their mettle at Stamford Bridge.

They have a chance to watch the Blues at Wolverhampton tomorrow, where Chelsea will seek to close what has now become a ten point gap between themselves and City.

Watford: Foster; Kiko Femenía, Kabasele, Cathcart, Holebas; Hughes (Quina  51′), Doucouré, Chalobah, (Deulofeu 63′), Pereyra; Success (Gray 75′), Deeney#WATMCI

Manchester City: Ederson; Walker, Kompany (Otamendi 83′), Stones, Delph; Bernardo Silva, Fernandinho, David Silva (Gundogan 73′); Mahrez, Gabriel Jesús (Laporte 88′), Sané.

Referee: Paul Tierney
Assistants: Constantine Hatzidakis, Mick McDonough
Fourth official: Michael Oliver