- Zabaleta nets first PL goal since ’14
- Silva ices it in 86'
- City first clean sheet since Oct. 29
Manchester City got back in the win column, giving Pep Guardiola a boost with a 2-0 win over Watford at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday.
The win keeps City a point back of second- and third-place Arsenal and Liverpool, seven back of leaders Chelsea.
David Silva and Pablo Zabaleta scored for Man City, with Kevin De Bruyne and Raheem Sterling earning assists.
Watford slips to 11th, level on 21 points with Southampton (9th) and Bournemouth (10th).
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City controlled the first half despite a very tight and disciplined performance from Watford at the back.
It would take something special, and that was a smart run down the right side by Zabaleta. The Argentine back met Kevin De Bruyne’s loop of a cross to make it 1-0.
Watford had a chance at the end of the half through Odion Ighalo, but the striker frittered it away.
City looked set to improve on this disappointing stat:
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3 – Man City have won just three of their seven home league games this season, half the number they’ve won away from home (6). Frustrated.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 14, 2016
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And yet City couldn’t put away the Hornets, and Nordin Amrabat gave Ighalo a chance to equalize only to see the striker thump it over the goal.
But Silva and Raheem Sterling worked a 1-2 down the left of Watford’s final third, and it was all set at the Etihad.
