Delph puts it out for a goal-kick from Gomes trying to play a long ball down the wing for Aguero to cut across and collect at the edge of the box. The keeper taps out to his defence and that'll be all; the referee blows for full time!
90' +3
Watford are still fuming on that decision, but there is nothing they can do about it as Kabasele's attempted break is held by Sterling who cuts back into midfield to block his pass up front to Sinclair.
90' +1
Now it's Watford's turn to cry for a penalty, after Sinclair is forced over by Otamendi in the box. The Hornets are unhappy; referee Lee Mason waves play on.
90'
Stop by Gomes! Sterling is played through by David Silva, with a wonderful flat ball, though he may have been offside. He gets it only ten yards away from the keeper and looks to bury it in the top corner; fingertips instead push the ball away and back to Wague who clears. Four added minutes.
88'
Toure blasts a thundering cross in from 30 yards out on the right on the run, looking for Aguero; instead, he finds the arms of Gomes who collects on the full and punts it back downfield.
86'
That's the first league goal City have conceded in well over five hours of football at home, having kept clean sheets since a 4-1 win against Tottenham on December 16th. Something else to take away for Watford tonight.
84'
The Hornets aren't finished yet! It's another counter-attack from Gray, who launches a shot from 20 yards out on the left that skims the far right post. A goal-kick is awarded, though the Watford man claims that Otamendi got a touch on it as played the strike.
83'
R. Pereyra gets yellow.
Pereyra gets a yellow now for a late, sloppy tackle on Sane on halfway. It slows down City's play though - and then Cleverley intercepts the free-kick and the visitors play it back into midfield.
82'
J. Sinclair enters the game and replaces Richarlison.
A. Gray has scored a goal for Watford! Assist by A. Carrillo.
Watford also make their final change in the celebrations; Richarlison is repalced by Jerome Sinclair for the final ten minutes or so.
A neat, clever cross from Carrillo too, if again quite textbook. Ederson will be furious to have conceded that one.
Watford avoid the whitewash! Cleverley plays out Carrillo off an Ederson deflection to the left side of the box - and then the latter crosses flat across the face of goal where Gray taps in at the far post. The Hornets have matched the leaders in sparodic flashes - but it's hard to feel churlish for their consolation score.
79'
Bernardo Silva enters the game and replaces K. De Bruyne.
It's De Bruyne;s last action in this game too as he is replaced by Bernardo Silva for City's last change.
Minute
Description
78'
De Bruyne brushes the post! He is gifted a wonderful cut-back pass from inside the box on the left from Sane and sees his shot just slice off the outside of the near post. So close.
76'
Sane! Close for the City man as Sterling puts a square cross from the right in for him to race onto only five yards out. He gets there a shade too late as the ball flies past - instead colliding with Gomes and nearly putting another boot to the Watford keeper's head for the second time tonight.
75'
City claim for a penalty again as Sterling slips in the box as the weather worsens. None is forthcoming and Gomes returns with a punt.
73'
Oh, that is cheeky from Sane. The City man earns a quick free-kick some 25 yards sharp left of the Watford box and rather than float it in, plays a short tap and cuts in behind the wall of defenders to launch a cross from there for Aguero. The finish is poor, alas, with the latter's header skewing wide and to the safe hands of Gomes - but inventive, smart play there.
71'
Y. Touré enters the game and replaces Fernandinho.
Fernandinho makes way for Yaya Toure in City's second change of the night.
70'
De Bruyne crosses again from the right, looking for Aguero as the heavens open in earnest following a slight drizzle and Storm Eleanor arrives in earnest. He doesn't find his mark; instead, Cleverley catches it on a half-volley and blaats it away from immediate danger.
68'
Sane almost gets his name on the scoresheet too, displaying fleet-of-foot skills to cut into the Watford box, before Wague manages to displace him of the ball as he lines up a shot for the far right corner.
67'
Danilo enters the game and replaces J. Stones.
City make their first change now, with Danilo on for Stones.
65'
Gomes is grinning just as much as Aguero; after failing to find the mark all evening, he has been bested by City's talisman up front. It's a rueful smile; possibly one remembering how he put three past him last time out...
63'
S. Agüero has scored a goal for Manchester City!
Aguero finally gets his goal! From the corner, City play it around the right flank in a one-two between De Bruyne and Walker before the former crosses for the striker. Gomes gets the first touch, trying to push it away - but to no avail as his clearance lands at Aguero's feet for a reflex tap-in. 3-0 to the hosts.
62'
... and Watson is replaced by Roberto Pereyra.
61'
R. Pereyra enters the game and replaces B. Watson.
T. Cleverley enters the game and replaces É. Capoue.
A double change for Watford now as Capoue is replaced by Tom Cleverley...
59'
Janmaat to the rescue as the Watford right-back cuts across Stones inside the visitors' box and picks his pocket as the England man looks to go for goal following a neat De Bruyne pass. Good work from the Dutchman.
57'
Cries for a penalty from the Etihad again as Aguero is grounded by a clumsy Zeegelaar challenge inside the box. The referee deems that there was no contact though and Watford are able to clear as the crowd - rather quiet since that second goal - scream their displeasure.
55'
The Blues swing it in long, looking for Fernandinho at the far right post; instead, Gomes punches away for Doucoure, who has had a rather quiet night so far, to clear.
54'
It's almost a carbon-copy miss again for Aguero only moments later - except this time, it's a deflection off Kabasele that denies him. City get a corner.
52'
Unlike other games in the Premier League tonight, the Etihad Stadium has avoided a battering from Storm Eleanor - whilst Watford keeper Gomes has avoided a battering from Sergio Aguero, who miscues another attempt on goal from a Delph long ball, scuffing it out wide to the left frm inside the box.
50'
It's De Bruyne to take... and De Bruyne who finds the side netting as he tries to curl it in with what would have been a frankly incredible shot if he pulled it off. Gomes boots long from the goal-kick and play resumes.
49'
David Silva is not a happy bunny as his cries for a penalty are waved away by referee Lee Mason following a tackle by Wague where the City captain tumbled inside the box. City do get a free-kick moments later though, on the very cusp of the left edge of the Watford penalty area after Janmaat lands a heavy slide on Sane.
48'
Watford definitely have had spells in this game where they have looked competent - but that wasn't one of them there. Kabasele is far too slow to respond to De Bruyne practically strolling past him on the right - and the visitors are only saved by the fact the following cross can't find a diving Aguero.
46'
We're back underway at the Etihad Stadium. Can City build on that first half and deliver something special by their own standards? Or can Watford cling on to some dignity?
45' +2
Sterling slips a great ball down the right touchline on halfway for De Bruyne, who brings it in for Aguero with a cut-back cross. It's a brilliant chance for the striker once more; instead, he puts a tame shot to Gomes through the defence to cap off the first half as the referee blows his whistle.
45' +1
De Bruyne's effort swings into the box, just ahead of everyone but Gomes and skitters out by the far left post as Aguero shakes his head in frustration. Two added minutes incoming.
45'
Watson concedes a free-kick now with a clumsy challenge on Sterling and City will have a crack 35 yards out on the right.
43'
Down the other end, Capoue gets a neat pass from Watson crossfield to the left side of the City box, and plays a shot in looking for the bottom right corner. Ederson dives to collect; a tester that the keeper deals well with as it bobbles along the deck.
42'
Gomes is alright after some brief treatment on the ground and play gets back underway. Sterling cuts back down the right wing after an interception and shoots from the edge of the box, only to find the side netting.
40'
Sterling and De Bruyne perform a great one-two at the right-edge of the Watford box before the slots a square cross in for Aguero; Gomes gets there first and in the process takes a boot to the head from Kabasele also trying to clear.
38'
Richarlison looks to sprint down the right wing, and find a cross inside to Gray or Capoue on halfway; instead, he puts the ball out for a throw-in trying to cut around Delph.
36'
Silva goes close now, fed by Delph with a neat through ball between two defenders in the box. He pushes it straight to Wague though, who clears for a throw-in - and then with a second attempt half-a-minute later off a deflection on the edge of the penalty area, he blows it over the crossbar.
34'
Wague performs a great piece of individual defending to pick Aguero's pocket in the box as the City man cuts back in with an inteception off Janmaat on the left. The Blues won't be denied though and force Gomes to save on the next play with a cross from Sane looking for Sterling.
32'
The last ten minutes or so, Watford have tightened up their game going forward, if not so much going backwards. Still, City are outclassing them on every level; you wouldn't bet against a third goal for the hosts before half-time.
30'
It's a bust of a corner for Watford, with Delph intercepting the pass from Capoue out the back and racing down the left wing with Walker out on his right to force the Hornets defence to tear back in time to stop a cross into the box. End-to-end in mere seconds.
29'
And now Gray is fed a wonderful ball by Richarlison down the right wing, the stiker collecting unmarked and cutting round a napping Otamendi into the box. Ederson races off his line and does enough to deflect a pinpoint shot - corner to the visitors as the keeper's hands force it wide and left again.
28'
Janmaat! Blimey, that was a chance and a half for the Watford right-back, who found himself in support of a Richarlison counter-attack on halfway and was fed into the right side of the City box with only Ederson and Stones to beat - though his final strike leaves much to be desired, spraying wide at the far left post.
26'
Sane crosses a long ball into the box to see if Sterling or De Bruyne can get to it, from a whopping 45 yards out on the left; it runs wide of goal at the far post and Gomes collects to restart.
24'
David Silva gets yellow.
It's Silva with the tackle on Watson and the City captain is booked, much to his frustration. The hosts snare up the ball quickly from the restart though; Watford backpedal almost immediately to ward off another fast-moving attack.
23'
Free-kick to City now, some 40 yards out on the righ flank, after Capoue lands a heavy tackle on De Bruyne. Watson gets on it quickly though, intercepting the second pass with a neet little burst of speed, before earning a free-kick of his own on halfway.
21'
Bar one or two sniffs from breaks in play, this is utterly dire from Watford. City aren't needing to shut down their attacks; they're self combusting too quickly to even start a meaningful spell so far. The Blues have 76 percent possession after 20 minutes - a two-goal lead seems almost underwhelming for their efforts so far.
19'
Watford make a break down the right and play into the City box in a rare show of counter-attacking, only for Gray to miscue his cross in for Carrillo. The Hornets earn a corner only for it to go straight to Stones and the hosts canter away out of danger.
17'
Off the woodwork! De Bruyne's free-kick is lifted fabulously above the defensive wall and rattles the top left corner where the crossbar and post meet. It deflects back into the box where Stones lands a header at the second attempt - straight to Gomes.
15'
Free-kick now to the hosts, on the lip of the left side of the Watford box after a foul on Delph. De Bruyne to take...
13'
C. Kabasele is unfortunate, scores an own goal!
No such luck for Kabasele twice; this time, his slide attempt in the box trying to defend a flat cross from the right this time via De Bruyne sees the Watford defender slice the ball inside Gomes despite the keeper's best efforts to stop it. City wheel away in celebration with a 2-0 lead; what a disaster for the Hornets.
12'
A golden chance for City! Silva and Sane combine for a one-two on the left edge of the Watford box and the latter slides it across the face of goal. Kabasele nearly puts it in himself for an own goal, looking to clear it - though no Blues players got there in time. Corner to the hosts.
10'
Sane breaks on the left, and looks to slot a cross into the box for Sterling to tap in again, this one delivered low from 25 yards out in the centre-left of the park. Gomes dives and collects before the England man can arrive to claim a second score.
9'
Richarlison looks to feed another long ball to Gray, this time slipping it between Silva and Fernandinho in midfield, only for Otamendi to read the move better and intercept en-route to the striker.
7'
Watford get a free-kick deep in their own half, and very nearly catch City out, with Gray outstripping Stones to the long delivery down the left. The striker's first touch is deft - though before he can add a second and a finish, Ederson races off his line to bat the ball away. Great keeping.
5'
Stones! That could have been 2-0. City earn a corner and play it out wide from the right, around the goal before Sane dummies back in and slips it to Stones, whose corkscrew half-volley from 10 yards out is skied over the goal.
3'
City aren't in the mood to mess around; they head straight for the Watford box again, only to be forced out into the Hornets' back-left corner by Zeegelaar, who desperately reclaims possession and tries to dig his side out of danger.
1'
R. Sterling has scored a goal for Manchester City! Assist by L. Sané.
And we're underway! City are playing from left to right in this first half, in their traditional home strip of blue and white; Watford are decked out in all red on this chilly night.
Well, that didn't take long! City hit the front inside sixty seconds, as Raheem Sterling taps in a Sane cross at the far right post, catching the Watford defence and keeper Gomes completely out of place. It's a perfect start for the hosts; a nightmare one for the Hornets.
Sane's cross was textbook, a flat effort some 25 yards out on the left edge, having been slipped a through ball by captain Silva. Still, it caught Watford completely off-guard; the Hornets have no-one to blame but themselves there.
Good evening and welcome to the final match of the New Year period in the Premier League, as rampant leaders Manchester City host out-of-form Watford at the Etihad Stadium. The Blues’ victorious streak came to an end in a goalless draw with Crystal Palace last time out; can Pep Guardiola’s side get back to winning ways against Marco Silva’s hot-and-cold Hornets? Kick-off is on the way.
City’s coronation as Premier League champions seems all but confirmed given the 12-point gulf between them and rivals Manchester United in second, but Roy Hodgson almost undid less than a week ago. They will take heart from form though; the Blues have beaten the Hornets on their seven las t encounters, with an aggregated score of 24-3.
Team news in now – and the good news for City fans is that Kevin De Bruyne has overcome the injury sustained against Palace to keep his place. Five changes for the hosts, with Aguero, Stones, Sterling and Delph returning to the line up alongside David Silva – whilst Watford make two, with Capoue and Gray in, with Cleverley dropped to the substitute bench.
Subs: B Silva, Toure, Zinchenko, Bravo, Mangala, Gundogan, Danilo
MANCHESTER CITY (4-3-3): Ederson; Delph, Otamendi, Walker, Stones; D Silva, Fernandinho, De Bruyne; Sterling, Sane, Aguero
If Watford could hold onto their leads, the story of their season so far could be vastly different; the Hornets have lost 16 points from winning positions this season in the Premier League, more than any other team. In addition, they have failed to score away at City since 2001 – and haven’t beaten the table-topping side on game day in the top flight since Liverpool in 1983 too.
Five of Watford’s Premier League games this season have seen a winner scored after the 90th minute – two in their favour and three against, most recently against Swansea last time out. The Hornets have also lost three on the trot away from Vicarage Road, though this pales next to the seven successive away defeats suffered between February and May last year.
Even if they had slipped up to Palace last time out in South London, City would have not had their impressive home streak tarnished; the Blues are unbeaten in their last 22 Premier League games at the Etihad Stadium (W17 D5), their longest such run in the competition since a 37-game streak that ended in December 2012.
Watford won’t be that happy to see Aguero back for the hosts either; the Blues striker has scored nine goals in his five games against Watford in all competitions, including two hat-tricks – one in an FA Cup tie in January 2014, and another in City’s 6-0 win at Vicarage Road in the reverse fixture last year. A second brace today could see him become the second player to score a Premier League hat-trick against the same club twice in a season, after Emmanuel Adebayor against Derby County in 2007-08.
The teams are out on a cold and damp night in Manchester; can Watford pull off a shock in the Blues' back yard or will City put last week's draw behind them in emphatic fashion?
It could be so much more than just 2-0 for City; they have dominated this game from the first minute. Credit to Watford who have clawed their way back in, with three attempts on goal of their own; but with a 3-to-1 possession advantage, it's the Blues who have the better of them rather than vice versa. Half-time, it's Manchester City 2-0 Watford.
Given the way they started the game, you could be forgiven for thinking that this could have been a City masterclass. Instead, after the opening twenty minutes, they put the cue on the rack and settled in for a relatively workmanlike shift against a Watford side grimly determined to make the best of a terrible opening quarter. A goal apiece in the second half saw Sergio Aguero finally score after numerous poorly converted chances and Andre Gray gave some consolation to the clutch of travelling Hornets fans with a neat tap-in - but in the end, it's the restoration of business as usual for the Blues. Full time at the Etihad Stadium, it finishes Manchester City 3-1 Watford.
The Premier League takes a break now for both sides, as they head into the FA Cup lying 1st and 10th respectively. It's an all-Premier League affair for the former, as they host Burnley, who arrive with some Christmas cobwebs to blow off. Meanwhile, the Hornets tangle with Bristol City, flushed fresh with the success of reaching the League Cup semi-final next week - where they too meet Manchester City. Until then however, thank you for joining us - and have a great week!
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