Sane on target as City go five clear
Guardiola’s leaders win again after they survive late barrage MATT BARLOW
THERE were times when goalkeeper Ben Foster must have thought he had been plunged into a cruel reaction test, a quick-fire training drill with multiple balls in circulation and various strikers positioned to take aim from a range of angles.
Foster would parry one, scramble to his feet, spring high in search of a cross and throw his body down to smother another threat.
For 40 minutes, he kept everything out, his confidence soared and adrenaline fuelled more heroics towards the next inevitable barrage from Manchester City.
This is what a top-half Premier League fixture has become when Pep Guardiola and the champions come to town.
Watford were organised and energetic, yet from the opening exchanges the atmosphere was akin to the closing stages of an FA Cup third-round tie where the underdogs are hanging on for a replay.
Keeping City out for 90 minutes is not an easy task and ultimately it proved beyond Javi Gracia and his team.
Leroy Sane found a way to beat Foster five minutes before the interval, Riyad Mahrez added a second six minutes into the second half and City cruised towards what ought to be a sterner test at Chelsea on Saturday.
Guardiola’s team are unbeaten in 21 league games, too good for most of the division and clearly not distracted by rumblings of UEFA punishment for their alleged attempts to swerve the rules of Financial Fair Play. And this time without some of their best performers of the season.
December’s congested fixture schedule has sent shivers through most Premier League managers, especially those involved in European competition and still in the Carabao Cup, and Guardiola shuffled his squad.
Raheem Sterling and Aymeric Laporte, both exceptional this season, started on the bench, and Sergio Aguero was ruled out with a slight muscle problem.
Still, they opened with great fluency, zipping passes around on a slick surface and the trademark urgency, hustling Watford into mistakes. Sane sprinted clear after intercepting a square pass by Jose Holebas.
Once in the clear there was nobody going to catch Sane and he delayed his shot until Foster was committed to a dive, then tried to dink it over the goalkeeper. Foster thrust up his left hand and pawed it away; a fabulous save from a man braced for a busy shift.
Vincent Kompany turned a corner wide at the near post and Foster saved again from Bernardo Silva and Mahrez as the home side survived City’s opening burst. Watford buzzed about in search of the ball, usually arriving as it was moved on but committed to the task, seeking to break when it seemed safe.
Counter-attacks on Ederson’s goal were rare. One, midway through the first half, was repelled in uncompromising fashion by the Brazil goalkeeper, who stepped out and launched a clearance over the roof of the Elton John Stand.
Roberto Pereyra curled an effort wide after a twisting run which left Fernandinho sliding out of play on the greasy surface and Nathaniel Chalobah failed to connect with an ambitious volley from distance. The clearest chance fell to Troy Deeney with 32 minutes gone. Isaac Success crossed from the right and Abdoulaye Doucoure brought the ball down and with his back to goal hooked it over his head into the goalmouth.
Deeney won the physical battle, fought off the challenge and met the chance on the half-volley, sliding it towards goal.
Ederson, with his weight moving to his right, stuck out his left leg to make the block and rode his luck as the ball skidded to safety.
Deeney held his head and, within a few minutes, the missed chance took on a greater significance.
Foster made another save to deny Sane but the rebound was recycled to the City right, from where Mahrez sent another teasing cross spinning up towards the back post.
With a burst of pace, Sane slipped behind Kiko Femenia and used his chest to apply the finish.
It was City’s 10th effort at goal in the first 45 minutes. Perhaps not the most efficient conversion rate but an indication of their superiority. Watford spirits sank. The sanctuary of the interval was in sight when Foster was beaten.
Now they had to scale the mental barrier of fighting back against the champions who arrived at Vicarage Road having not conceded an away goal since Wily Boly scored with his hand for Wolves. Five minutes into the second half, City stretched their lead. Slick passing on the left flank released Brazil striker Gabriel Jesus and his cut-back left Mahrez with a simple finish.
It was the cue for the visitors to drop a gear and for Watford to offer more adventure. Suddenly the game was more even.
Jesus pulled his shot wide when sent through by Mahrez and Ederson saved from Doucoure. Foster saved from Mahrez and Doucoure bundled in Watford’s goal. The home side peppered Ederson’s goal in the closing minutes — but to no avail. WATFORD (4-4-2): Foster 7; Femenia 5, Kabasele 6, Cathcart 6, Holebas 5; Hughes 5 (Quina 50min, 5), Chalobah 5 (Deulofeu 63, 5), Doucoure 6, Pereyra 5; Deeney 5, Success 6 (Gray 75). Subs not used: Gomes, Mariappa, Wilmot, Masina. Scorer: Doucoure 85. Booked: None. Manager: Javi Gracia 5. MAN CITY (4-3-3): Ederson 7; Walker 6, Stones 7, Kompany 7 (Otamendi 84), Delph 6; Bernardo 8, Fernandinho 7, Silva 7 (Gundogan 73, 6); MAHREZ 8.5, Jesus 6.5 (Laporte 88), Sane 8. Subs not used: Muric, Danilo, Sterling, Foden. Scorers: Sane 40, Mahrez 51. Booked: Ederson. Manager: Pep Guardiola 7. Referee: Paul Tierney 6. Attendance: 20,389.