JESUS STRIKE HELPS CITY TO EXTEND RUN
IT was not the outcome that top-versus-bottom might have suggested but Gabriel Jesus helped Man City extend their unbeaten run to 19 games and retain pole position in the table.
The Brazil international’s close-range first half effort settled a forgettable encounter which offered further proof of City’s watertight defence but also of Sheffield United’s unbreakable belief.
There was no shame in not being able to break down City given it is now nearly 10 hours of football sincewest Brom scored here on December 15.
And there was no lack of fight from Chriswilder’s side who look improved of late, despite remaining 10 points adrift of safety.
City boss Pep Guardiola admitted as much saying his side had to “fight like animals” to ensure victory.
He said: “We said before, this would be one of the toughest games of the season and it was. I am looking forward when we are going to drop points which will happen, how we will react.”
Guardiola may have to wait a while yet to find out.
The Blades had arrived for a second assignment in Manchester inside four days with a spring in their step after the win over United.
They also arrived with a pretty clear plan to try to stifle City’s forwards with disciplined lines and a tight flat back five.
And for much of the first half it worked, their pink shirts scurrying to keep routes plugged and City frustrated.
Given that they worked so hard, the manner of City’s goal will have been frustrating for
Wilder despite him conceding this has “still been a decent week”.
By City’s standards it was no more than a hopeful ball down the right but Ferran Torres rescued it by the right byline and his square ball found
Jesus, who beat Aaron Ramsdale from close range.
Wilder admitted City could have “taken us to the cleaners after that” but that they didn’t was testament both to their industry and Ramsdale.
Indeed, had it not been for brilliant defending from Ruben Dias the visitors might have troubled their hosts more.
They almost nicked a point when John Fleck fired narrowly wide on the half volley after Billy Sharp had chested the ball down.