Watford vs. Manchester City: Winners and Losers from Premier League
Manchester City started 2016 with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Watford on Saturday in the Barclays Premier League.
Watford took the lead early in the second half as Aleksandar Kolarov headed into his own net from a Ben Watson corner, but City turned around the game with two goals in three minutes. Yaya Toure equalized with an eye-catching volley in the 82nd minute, and Sergio Aguero headed in a fine winner just two minutes later.
The win kept Man City within three points of Premier League leaders Arsenal, who edged Newcastle United 1-0 earlier Saturday.
Here, Bleacher Report selects winners and losers from the match.
Winner: Sergio Aguero
1 of 5
After Manchester City's last Premier League match, I called into question Sergio Aguero's match-sharpness. The Argentina international looked off the pace that day against Leicester City, but while some concerns may remain over his fitness, Aguero showed his quality on Saturday with a superb winner in the 84th minute.
As City attacked quickly down the right flank, Aguero positioned himself expertly between Watford's center-backs in the box. Tracking Bacary Sagna's whipped cross, Aguero hung in the air for what seemed an eternity before sending a looping header past Heurelho Gomes.
Everything about the finish was quality: The timing, the position, the leap and, most importantly, the header. The strike was Aguero's first goal since Nov. 21, and if the Sky Blues are going to catch Arsenal in the title race, it's surely the first of many in 2016.
"Aguero needs two to three games to return to his normal level of performance," manager Manuel Pellegrini told BBC Sport. "The goal was important for him. Before that he made a lot of good moments. I'm sure we'll see in the second part of the season the performances we're used to from him."
Loser: Heartbreak for Watford
2 of 5
There's no way around it: This result is a heartbreaker for Watford. Manchester City's comeback was impressive, but after taking the lead early in the second half, the hosts must have been dreaming of taking the full three points.
And apart from the final 10 minutes, Watford were probably worthy of the win. The Hornets did a good job of frustrating City for most of the match, and it was little surprise when they took the lead after a Ben Watson corner went in off Aleksandar Kolarov.
On another day, Watford might have held on for victory. But fatigue seemed to take its toll in the second half, and once Yaya Toure's equalizer flew in, City had new life. From there, Sergio Aguero's winner almost felt inevitable.
"It's very hard to us. We played fantastic and in the last moments we lose the match," Watford manager Quique Sanchez Flores told Sky Sports (h/t BBC Sport). "We will learn the lesson for the future. The players deserved more. When we have played against amazing teams I have the feeling we have been unlucky. We need to eliminate this match [from our minds]."
Winner: Man City's Away Form
3 of 5
Manchester City's recent record on the road has been poor. Coming into Saturday's game, the Sky Blues had won none of their previous six trips away from the Etihad, drawing three and losing three.
That kind of away form is a sure way to lose ground in the title race, so manager Manuel Pellegrini must be pleased to have ended that winless run on Saturday. But the Chilean will also be happy with a victory after the way his side played for 80 minutes.
Until Yaya Toure's equalizer flew in, City were poor. Winning when not at your best is a quality of a title-winning side, and Pellegrini's men passed that test on Saturday.
At the Manchester Evening News, Simon Bajkowski wrote:
"These three points could be vital in the title race and the Premier League table does not record how hard a team have had to work to earn them. Arsenal hardly cruised to victory today against Newcastle.
In a matter of minutes, the Blues went from being just three points ahead of neighbours and crisis team United to being three points behind the Premier League leaders.
All those stats about the games since an away win can be put to bed now as well.
The optimism from the result should not excuse the worries over performance though, and significant improvement in all departments other than goalkeeper is surely needed if the Blues are to be top at the end of the season.
"
Winner: Yaya Toure's Finishing
4 of 5
Yaya Toure can be as frustrating as he is brilliant. On Saturday, he was both.
For most of the match, the Ivorian midfielder played well below his best. But in the 82nd minute, he powered in an impressive volley to pull Manchester City level. It turned into the spark that led his side to victory.
This finish wasn't as good as his wonder-strike at Arsenal a few games back, but unlike that goal, this one was more than mere consolation.
Winner: Premier League Title Race
5 of 5
With 10 minutes left in this game, Arsenal appeared to be the real winners. Sure, Watford were on course for a victory, but the Gunners would have gone six points clear of Man City if the result held.
In that sense, the turnaround was a win for any Premier League neutral. Thanks to this turnaround, Man City remained just three points behind Arsenal—and moved within one point of second-placed Leicester.
This oddest of title races seems destined to go down to the wire, and it's worth wondering whether Saturday's comeback will be seen as a critical result.
"Feels like a big moment for City, that," tweeted Bleacher Report contributor Tim Collins. "They've rallied, away from home, against a good team, when they've looked out of sorts."
