Sheffield United 0, Manchester City 1
Sergio Aguero came off the bench to score the winner as Manchester City laboured to victory at Bramall Lane against Sheffield United.
Embed from Getty ImagesVAR missed an X-rated challenge by John Fleck on Fernandinho in a full blooded encounter while Gabriel Jesus saw his first half penalty saved by Dean Henderson – and the on-loan United ‘keeper was clearly off his line as the Brazilian struck his spot kick too.
Aymeric Laporte made his first appearance for City in five months after sustaining a knee injury against Spurs in August and he lasted 78 minutes before being replaced by Eric Garcia.
The French defender was one of seven changes for City boss Pep Guardiola who retained only Ederson, Fernandinho, Kevin De Bruyne, and Raheem Sterling from the side that drew 2-2 against Crystal Palace at the weekend.
City lined up with a back three with Fernandinho joining Laporte and Nicolas Otamendi in defence.
Mo Besic tested Laporte’s injury with a nasty challenge which earned the midfielder a yellow card.
City had already been denied twice by on-loan United ‘keeper Dean Henderson – who made saves from Sterling and Otamendi – when Riyad Mahrez was brought down by Chris Basham as a trio of players combined to stop the Algerian’s progress in the penalty area.
Gabriel Jesus misses a third penalty in 6 for Manchester City at Sheffield United
Gabriel Jesus stepped up but his spot kick was poor and Henderson made the save to deny the Brazilian from the penalty spot.
It was Jesus’ third miss from six taken this season for a total of six from ten for club and country as City drew a first half blank against the hard working Blades.
Jesus’s weak header was comfortably saved by Henderson while Ederson saved from Lys Mousset’s backheel as United sought their own goal.
Sergio Aguero was brought on midway through the second half, replacing the misfiring Jesus but it was United who had the better chances when they came.
Ollie McBurnie couldn’t get a solid contact on the final ball as United spurned another chance to take the lead after a brilliant build-up.
Warning heeded, De Bruyne’s right-wing curling cross found Sergio Aguero in the 73rd minute and the Argentine pounced on his 7th goal in his last 4 Premier League appearances and his 21st goal of the season in all competitions.
In providing Aguero’s latest, De Bruyne became the first player in Premier League history to record 15 or more assists in three different campaigns.
The home side had to throw caution to the wind, making attacking substitutions but City managed the game out this time and took the points with late chances by Mahrez and Raheem Sterling blocked as City finished strongly.
Victory meant that City moved 6 points clear of Leicester City in third, although the Foxes have a game in hand.
MATCH STATS – Sheffield United 0, Manchester City 1
Sheffield United: Henderson, Basham (Robinson 78), Egan, O’Connell, Baldock, Besic (Lundstram 78), Norwood, Fleck, Stevens, Sharp (Mousset 59), McBurnie
Sheffield United Subs not used: Verrips, Jagielka, Freeman, Osborn
Booked: Besic, Norwood, Fleck, McBurnie
Man City: Ederson, Fernandinho, Otamendi, Laporte (Garcia 78), Walker, De Bruyne, Rodrigo, Zinchenko, Mahrez, Sterling (Bernardo Silva 90+2), Jesus (Aguero 67)
Man City Subs not used: Bravo, Gundogan, Cancelo, Foden
Booked: Fernandinho, Rodrigo, Aguero
Goal: Aguero 73
Referee: Lee Mason