QUICKER THAN STERLING MOSS
City race into the lead in 39 seconds
RAHEEM STERLING scored the fastest Premier League goal of the season last night as Manchester City got back into the winning groove.
The league leaders needed just 39 seconds to prove their 0-0 draw at Crystal Palace on Hogmanay was just a blip.
Christian Kabasele’s 13th-minute own goal put Pep Guardiola’s men in control before Sergio Aguero completed their scoring just after the hour.
Andre Gray did, however, manage a late consolation for head coach Marco Silva’s outclassed Hornets.
The win stretches City’s unbeaten start to the season to 22 games – and they are once again 15 points clear at the top.
Guardiola, though, is not happy, especially with the gruelling festive schedule.
He said: “We played really well. After dropping two points at Palace, we spoke about our reaction as big teams drop points but not too many.
“We made five changes from that game but it’s not our fault. I know in England the show must go on but that’s not normal guys. The big bosses should reflect that. We’re going to kill the players.
“The federations don’t think about the players but they have to. They play 11 months in a row.
“They have to protect them and play with quality and not quantity. We have to think about the artists. But it won’t happen.”
City were, though, able to play this match like a testimonial game, knocking the ball around under no pressure.
Guardiola’s side were eyeing the start of another lengthy winning run and they made the perfect start inside a minute.
David Silva found Leroy Sane on the left and he picked out Sterling to set him up for his 18th goal of the season.
They should have been 2-0 up four minutes later but John Stones skied the ball over from eight yards out. At the other end, Gray found himself through on goal but he was thwarted by home keeper Ederson.
City made it 2-0 after 13 minutes, Silva threaded the ball to Kevin De Bruyne, whose cross for striker Aguero was turned into his own net by Watford defender Kabasele.
And it would have been 3-0 in 17 minutes had keeper Heurelho Gomes not tipped a De Bruyne free-kick on to the bar.
Watford got to the break without conceding again but Aguero missed a glaring chance just after the restart by heading wide. However, he did make it 3-0 in the 63rd minute, prodding home after Watford No.1 Heurelho Gomes spilled a cross.
Gray netted for Watford with nine minutes to play but it was a mere blip on a night when City moved closer to the title.