City have luck on their side as second-half brace clinches victory
Sergio Aguero and Kevin De Bruyne struck in the second half as Manchester City reacted to Friday’s damaging loss at Wolves to claim a hard-fought 2-0 win over Sheffield United.
The champions looked weary at the Etihad Stadium, not only through fatigue as they played their second game in less than 48 hours, but perhaps the realisation that their hopes of defending their title are gone.
Yet they at least showed character to dig deep and get back to winning ways, although the visitors could point to two slices of luck involving the officials that went their way.
City were sluggish early on and their defence – with teenager Eric Garcia making his first Premier League start – looked uncomfortable.
Lys Mousset spurned a glorious early chance to put the visitors ahead when he got on the end of a floated Callum Robinson cross but headed wide.
United thought they had claimed the lead on 29 minuteswhenmoussetracedonto a long ball from John Fleck and fired home. City were furious because they thought Aguero had been fouled in the buildup but, while their complaints were brushed aside by referee Chris Kavanagh, VAR came to their aid by ruling Mousset was marginally offside.
City snatched the lead with a typically emphatic finish by Aguero. There had been sloppy passing in midfield but De Bruyne rose above that to pick out the Argentinian with a fine through ball. United complained as Kavanagh had got in the way of play prior to De Bruyne receiving the ball but such freak occurrences are just unfortunate. There was a VAR check but no reason to disallow the goal was spotted.
Riyad Mahrez and De Bruyne
combined to wrap up the points in the closing minutes, the Belgian finishing powerfully.
Billy Sharp went close to grabbing a consolation but his header rebounded off the post and rolled along the line.
• Jorginho and Tammy Abraham scored in the 83rd and 87th minutes at the Emirates as Chelsea came from behind to defeat Arsenal, who had led through Pierre-emerick Aubameyang’s early header. the world and I missed the club, so I can’t wait to get started.
“I’m feeling very proud that I’m back here at West Ham. But I think, more importantly, I’ll be looking to see what I can do and what I can make improvements to, how we can get some wins with the players and how we can get some quick wins on the field as well.
“I do believe that the squad of players I’ve got here is a better squad of players than when I took over before, so I am looking forward to working with them.
“I think there’s got to be a short-term goal for us just now to get the wins to get us away from the wrong end of the league and what we’re going to do over the next six months, then what we’re going to do over the next period as well. The start is really focusing on the immediate games.”