Watford vs. Manchester City: Score and Reaction from 2016 Premier League Match
Manchester City scraped to a 2-1 win over Watford in the Premier League at Vicarage Road on Saturday.
City looked to be heading toward defeat following Aleksandar Kolarov's own goal, but Yaya Toure volleyed home an equaliser with eight minutes of normal time remaining and Sergio Aguero— who returned to the starting lineup—grabbed the winner two minutes later.
The Citizens' goalscorers were otherwise reduced to anonymous showings by the impressive Watford, who were the better side for much of the contest.
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Both teams began well as Almen Abdi powered a shot just wide of the top corner from distance while City pushed forward in numbers.
Nicolas Otamendi endured an eventful start to the match as he made an outstanding tackle to deny Odion Ighalo from racing through before almost gifting Troy Deeney a goal with a disastrous back pass that required Kolarov to make a superb recovery.
Aguero was effectively kept quiet by the energetic hosts, according to Squawka Football:
Ighalo and Deeney continued to harass City's defence with physicality and tenacity, per the Premier League:
The Nigerian forced a save from Joe Hart after escaping Otamendi, and the goalkeeper needed to be alert again when the ball bounced off Craig Cathcart following a corner for the Hornets.
Former Sky Blues forward Shaun Goater had some advice for his old club and considerable praise for Ighalo:
City were able to regain possession in midfield and had several efforts on goal, with Fernandinho testing Heurelho Gomes and Raheem Sterling, Aguero and Kolarov all shooting off-target.
Jose Jurado was guilty of some poor decision-making as he opted to shoot rather than cross to one of several better-positioned team-mates, and the sides went in goalless at half-time.
Stuart Brennan of the Manchester Evening News gave his take on the proceedings at the break:
Watford fired an early warning shot in the second half as Hart tipped Ben Watson's drive—which looked to be heading wide—out for a corner, and shortly after, Bacary Sagna did well to clear to prevent Deeney from latching onto the ball in the six-yard box.
The hosts continued to threaten and were rewarded when Kolarov glanced Watson's wonderful corner into his own goal at the near post.
City showed little by way of response to the setback as Watford pushed in search of a second with Abdi causing more problems before seeing his shot deflected out.
The Citizens eventually regrouped. Etienne Capoue did well to outmuscle Fernandinho, and Yaya Toure twice missed the target when he should have done better.
Kevin De Bruyne came the closest with an excellent effort that Gomes proved equal to, but Brennan was unimpressed with their display:
Nevertheless, the visitors pulled level through Toure—who had until then been poor once again—as the midfielder showed exquisite technique in volleying home Kolarov's corner from close range.
Shortly after, City took the lead when Aguero leapt high in the air to direct Sagna's cross past Gomes.
Ighalo led the charge to find an equaliser for the stunned hosts and should have done better than fire straight at Hart from close range, but despite his efforts, City were unable to claim a deserved point.
Like Arsenal before them, City did well to grind out a win despite a lacklustre performance on Saturday. Still, with potentially tricky Premier League games against Everton, Crystal Palace and West Ham United coming up, they'll need to seriously improve.
As for Watford, the Hornets are away from home in their next two league outings, but against Southampton and Swansea City, they could well pick up at least four points if they can replicate their performance here.
Post-Match Reaction
According to Neil Johnston of BBC Sport, City boss Manuel Pellegrini praised his side's resilience and believed the result was deserved when he spoke to Sky Sports:
"This team has a lot of character. We never give up. We continued trying to score, always thinking we are able to score.
We were losing 1-0 and had to take a risk. A draw was not good—we needed three points. It was a very close, tough game for both teams. Watford are in a good moment. But I think we deserved to win—more shots, shots on target and possession.
"
Meanwhile, Watford manager Quique Sanchez Flores told Sky Sports (h/t Johnston):
"It's very hard to us. We played fantastic and in the last moments we lose the match. 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]."
