SERGIO TO THE RESCUE
Deadly Aguero sets new benchmark
SERGIO AGUERO climbed off the bench to sink Sheffield United at Bramall Lane and prove why Pep Guardiola thinks he is ‘irreplaceable’.
Aguero took just six minutes to make an impact with his 21st goal of the season – and seventh in his last four games – to secure victory and boost Manchester City’s chances of finishing second in the Premier League.
Guardiola’s men had endured a frustrating night until Aguero’s arrival on 67 minutes, with Gabriel Jesus seeing a first-half penalty saved by the impressive Dean Henderson.
Henderson, on loan from City’s neighbours Manchester United, is being tipped for a recall to the England squad and did his chances no harm with a string of stunning saves as the Blades pulled out all the stops to stifle the champions.
Guardiola rang the changes and made seven in all as he continued to rotate his squad, with the visitors handed a huge boost following the return of Aymeric Laporte a few weeks ahead of schedule.
Laporte had been sidelined since August with damaged knee ligaments and been a big miss for City’s in their desperate pursuit of Liverpool at the top of the table.
Meanwhile, Aguero’s reward for his stunning purple patch was being dropped to the bench.
Chris Wilder’s men might have been hosting the reigning champions but they have been no respecters of reputation this season and Guardiola’s men were no different to anyone else.
Jack O’Connell wiped out Raheem Sterling with a thumping challenge inside five minutes before Besic left Laporte in a crumpled heap with a tackle worthy mate.
City almost took the lead in the 20th minute when Chris Basham’s blunder allowed Riyad Mahrez and Sterling to combine but Henderson again impressed to palm Sterling’s strike wide.
Henderson then kept out Nicolas Otamendi’s bicycle kick as pressure on the home side began to mount.
But there seemed no way past Henderson, who produced more brilliance on 35 minutes when diving to his right to block Jesus’ penalty after of a red card. Welcome back
Basham had tripped Mahrez – it was the Brazilian’s sixth miss from the spot in his last 10 attempts and Guardiola wasn’t impressed.
The Spaniard must have been impressed with Henderson, though, who was at it again on 61 minutes to deny Jesus again following the Brazilian’s angled header.
The game’s turning point came when Oli McBurnie came within a whisker of converting Enda Stevens’ teasing cross on 72 minutes.
Just 60 seconds later, City finally ended the stalemate when the superb Kevin De Bruyne picked out Aguero with a terrific centre and the Argentine did the rest with a simple finish at the back post to finally blunt the Blades.