Manchester City 2-0 Watford, 2016 Premier League: Post-Match Reaction

Manchester City are back to the winning ways in the Premier League thanks to a vital 2-0 victory at Etihad Stadium against Watford on Wednesday night. The Citizens were dominant and scored goals at the right moments, kept a clean sheet and Pep Guardiola will enjoy a few days without criticism.

FIRST HALF

The hosts were dominant in the first 45 minutes, keeping possession well and using a lot of movement in the front four to confuse Watford's defense and find spaces. Chances were created but Heurelho Gomes always had his hands ready to stop any dangerous crosses or shots. Going back, the City back four didn't look as hopeless as in previous games, not trying to play out from the back everytime and clearing the danger when necessary.

The good effort from the first half awarded the Citizens a much deserved goal: Kevin De Bruyne put in a nice cross into the box and Pablo Zabaleta came flying in and scored at the far post to put City ahead at halftime.

SECOND HALF

City began the second half with the same dominance of possession and keeping the visitors far away from Claudio Bravo, and could have scored a second on a great run by Raheem Sterling if the Englishman's shot hadn't hit the crossbar. But as the minutes went on Watford grew into the game, and Etienne Capoue came very close to scoring the equalizer, but Bravo made a sensational save. Odion Ighalo came even closer to a goal, but his shot went just over the bar.

Things were getting nervous for City, and a second goal was badly needed to secure the three points. The goal came on a counter-attack, with Sterling calmly setting up David Silva for the winner. 2-0, major victory, clean sheet.

PHEW.

Man City: Bravo; Zabaleta, Otamendi, Kolarov, Clichy; Sterling, Gundogan (Fernando), Touré, Silva; De Bruyne (Sané), Nolito (Navas)

Goals: Zabaleta (32'), SIlva (85')

Watford: Gomes; Janmaat (Success), Prödl, Britos, Holebas; Pereyra (Zuñiga), Guediora, Capoue; Amrabat, Ighalo, Sinclair (Deeney)

Reactions

• How do you replace Fernandinho? With Gundogan and Yaya Touré. The two can defend, pass and attack with the same competence and talent, and they provided major support to the back four and the front four. Which is why it's such a shame that Gundogan went down with a knee injury in the first half. Hopefully it's nothing serious.
• Nolito and De Bruyne played as strikers in this one, but with great freedom to move all over the field, dragging their defenders and opening spaces for their teammates. Great gameplan from Pep.
• Raheem Sterling was fantastic today. Nearly scored a sensational goal and worked his butt off all game long.
• The plan defensively was very simple: clear everything out. Claudio Bravo barely touched the ball in the game, and the back four was tasked with just kicking the ball out of danger when need be. Clear adjustment from Pep, and it worked.