Pep delight at winning matches in ‘Fergie time’

PEP GUARDIOLA vowed to start unleashing four forwards against teams who park the bus and says he is revelling in winning games in ‘Fergie time’. This late show against West Ham was a 20th win on the spin for Manchester City in all competitions and they head to Old Trafford for Sunday’s Manchester derby searching for a 14th consecutive Premier League win which would break a 125-year top-flight record (set by Preston and Sunderland in 1891-92). ‘I learned to tackle it differently today,’ Guardiola said. ‘We don’t normally play with two strikers and two wingers but we did so — it is a lesson. The second half with Gabriel Jesus we had more players in the box. Against Southampton (another late win on Wednesday) I didn’t believe we would score the goals. Today I believed.’ Guardiola’s side have rescued nine Premier League points with goals in the final seven minutes of matches already this season, with David Silva’s 83rd-minute finish their third late winner in a week. Guardiola believes City have the same spirit as Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United teams, well known for scoring in stoppage time. ‘I heard about the Fergie time,’ Guardiola said. ‘If we can take something like Fergie time, it is welcome, a pleasure. ‘We never give up. I think what happened, the opponent doesn’t want to play. They just want to defend, waiting for a moment. I am not judging but it is difficult. ‘Always they have 10 players behind the ball. Hopefully in the future opponents can try to play and maybe it will be easier.’ Guardiola — who admitted Sergio Aguero’s form has dipped significantly since his car crash in Amsterdam — would not be drawn on Paul Pogba publicly wishing injuries on his City rivals. Pogba, in an interview on BBC’s Football Focus, said: ‘I hope — and it’s bad to say things like this — but I hope they will get some very important players injured like what happened with us.’ But Guardiola said: ‘It was an expression. I am pretty sure he doesn’t want other players to get injured.’ West Ham manager David Moyes insisted his side will not go down despite losing three of his opening four games: ‘I don’t think we will be in trouble. I think we have a good team, good players. I think the effort and energy of the players will give us a real chance.’