PLAYER RATINGS
DANNY WARD: A surprise call-up, Ward did not totally solve the set-piece woes – not that the Watford goal was his fault – but he did come to claim high balls when he could. He made one excellent save down low to his left during City’s woeful start, and then two more decent stops in the second period. There was nearly an error late in the first half when his eagerness to claim a cross saw him nearly give up an open goal, but overall he was solid 8/10
TIMOTHY CASTAGNE: He will be disappointed he did not react quickly enough to clear Pedro’s shot off the line, but he recovered extremely well. He denied Watford two big chances by getting across and covering for absent team-mates, while he ventured forward well and was denied a goal by a solid Foster save 7/10
WESLEY FOFANA: Not everything went quite right for him, with a few passes unable to find their targets, or just underhit, but he was always quick enough to make up for any errors he did make. He was good enough to mop up for others as well, and made some terrific one-on-one tackles in the second half 7/10
JONNY EVANS: It was his long ball that led to the confusion in the Watford defence for the first goal, while he defended fairly solidly thereafter, having been as guilty as anyone during City’s terrible first 15 minutes. He was moving gingerly when he went off just before the hour 6/10
JAMES JUSTIN: He pushed forward really well at times, and made sure to get quick ball to Barnes during the spells where Watford couldn’t deal with the winger. His forays forward did sometimes leave City open down the left though, with Justin’s team-mates needing to cover 6/10
PAPY MENDY: From a defensive viewpoint, he was fine, even if he struggled with the physical battle against Sissoko. On the ball, he was calm as usual when doing the simple stuff, but gave the ball away in his one opportunity to start a City counter attack. His impact was felt in the second half when City were not so defensively solid 5/10
JAMES MADDISON: Another goal, another two assists, and another game where he oozed class. His clipped ball over the top to Vardy for the second goal was pinpoint, while there were plenty of clever touches beyond that, including the header to Albrighton for the third goal 8/10
YOURI TIELEMANS: He perhaps could have done better to clear the corner for the Watford goal, but afterwards was City’s best player in the first half, making tackles and nice passes around the field. His awareness and touch for the Maddison goal was first class, for example. He was solid in a deeper role in the second half until he gave the ball away with a lazy pass to set up a Watford chance 7/10
KIERNAN DEWSBURY-HALL: He lost the ball more than he usually does, and he was not as involved as he usually would be, although that was in part because of the end-to-end nature of the second half. He did the basics pretty well 6/10
HARVEY BARNES: There were moments throughout the game where he lost the ball too easily, or where he ignored team-mates in good positions to go alone, only to be tackled. But still... two exceptional goals, controlling the volley for his first superbly, while he also set up Vardy with a fantastic ball over the top 8/10
JAMIE VARDY: How good is it to have him back? Beyond the two goals, the first a smart finish to be aware of Foster’s positioning, the second instinctive when his first touch initially let him down, he moved the ball to team-mates really well, always making sure he was an option into feet but without ever lessening his threat. A terrific all-round display 9/10
SUBSTITUTES
MARC ALBRIGHTON 7/10 DANIEL AMARTEY 6/10 PATSON DAKA 5/10