WATFORD 1, MANCHESTER CITY 2
Ben Watson’s corner deflected in by Aleksandar Kolarov to gift Watford the lead
Yaya Toure with great equaliser after Manuel Pellegrini gambles on change to 4-4-2
Sergio Aguero’s first goal since November as his form returns
Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini is convinced that Sergio Aguero will return to his full form in time for Manchester City’s title run-in after scoring an important goal to seal victory on the road in the league for the first time since September last year.
The Chilean said: “Before the goal he made better movements than last game, so I hope next game we are going to see the complete Sergio.”
Aguero scored a late winner, his first goal since November’s defeat against Liverpool, after City had gone behind to an Aleksandar Kolarov own-goal.
Aguero’s goal followed a sublime equaliser from Yaya Toure, after Pellegrini had gambled on a tactical switch back to 4-4-2 to give the Argentine some support up front with Wilfried Bony coming on and Fernandinho dropping into defence.
Pellegrini said: “We were unlucky with the own goal from a corner that wasn’t a corner but we continued to try and score and we were able to turn the score around.
“It was a close game, Watford are in a good moment and playing well but we deserved to win. We had more shots on target, we dominated possession.”
The Chilean explained his risky change while 1-0 down, saying: “We were losing 1-0 so we had to take a risk. A draw was not good for our team.
“It’s not Fernandinho’s position, but he’s an intelligent player and Watford were not going to attack too much.”
He added: “We never give up, we have a lot of character. We won our Champions League group in the same way.”
City were unchanged for the trip to Watford and had to win to keep pace with league leaders Arsenal after the Gunners beat Newcastle United at home in their 3pm kick off at the Emirates.
But they had to be stung into action by a Watford opener before responding with two late goals against the flagging Hornets – scored by Yaya Toure and Sergio Aguero with less than 10 minutes to go.
It was their first away win in seven league games since September 12 at Crystal Palace but it wasn’t achieved without conceding another goal against a hardworking Watford side although Ben Watson’s goalbound corner was deflected past Joe Hart by Aleksandar Kolarov.
Odion Ighalo had earlier spun Nicolas Otamendi but was denied by Hart as the warning signs were once again presenting themselves.
Kevin De Bruyne and Fernandinho each tested the Heurelho Gomes before Watford’s Allan Nyom was booked for diving while trying to earn a penalty.
Fernandinho should have put City into the lead from City’s first corner in the 53rd minute but his header was wayward.
But it was the Hornets who threatened to sting City two minutes later after Ben Watson’s corner was deflected past Joe Hart by Kolarov.
Fernandinho, one of City’s best players on the day, could have won a penalty and De Bruyne forced a save from Gomes as City tried to fight their way back into the game.
Knowing that a win was vital, Pellegrini gambled and Eliaquim Mangala was sacrificed for Wilfried Bony in a move that saw City switch to 4-4-2 and Fernandinho slot into central defence alongside Otamendi.
City remained shaky though, requiring the Fernandinho to put in a last ditch tackle to save a certain goal attempt.
Yaya Toure levelled things in the 82nd minute with a sidefooted volley from Kolarov’s corner to beat Gomes after getting in front of Jose Holebas.
It was a third goal in four games for the Ivorian but only his sixth goal in all this season.
Sergio Aguero’s cushioned header from Bacary Sagna’s lofted cross sealed the points after he got between two defenders two minutes later to net his tenth goal of the season.
And Joe Hart made sure of victory with a late save from Ighalo.