- Manchester City beat Watford 2-0 at the Etihad in the Premier League on Saturday to maintain 100 per cent record
- Raheem Sterling scored his first goal since joining City after turning home Bacary Sagna's cross on 47 minutes
- City doubled their lead 10 minutes later when Fernandinho smashed home after receiving David Silva's pass
Manchester
City fans chanted 'Raheem Sterling... he's top of the league' as the
£49million winger scored his first goal for the club and maintained
their 100 per cent start to the season with a record 10th league win in a
row.
Following
a summer of turmoil of controversy that marked his move from Anfield,
Sterling was all smiles as he nonchalantly volleyed in Bacary Sagna's
cross shortly after half-time to break the deadlock against
well-organised Watford.
Fernandinho
added an emphatic second as Manuel Pellegrini's men made it four wins
on the trot without conceding a goal. City have won all four games this
season in addition to the last six of the last campaign.
Manchester City midfielder Fernandinho celebrates in front of the supporters after doubling the home side's lead
Fernandinho produces a powerful finish that beats Watford goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes despite his despairing dive to the right
The Brazil international (far left) is congratulated by his team-mates after ensuring City's fine start to the season continued
MATCH FACTS, PLAYER RATINGS, PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE AND MATCH ZONE
MANCHESTER CITY (4-2-3-1): Hart
6; Sagna 6.5, Mangala 6, Kompany 6, Kolarov 6; Fernandinho 6, Toure
6.5; Sterling 7.5 (Iheancho 90), Silva 8 (Delph 75 6), Navas 5.5 (Nasri
45 6); Aguero 6.5
Unused subs: Caballero (Gk), Demichelis, Maffao, Delph, Roberts
Subs not used: Caballero, Demichelis, Roberts, Maffeo Becerra, Iheanacho
Scorers: Sterling 47, Fernandinho 56
Booked: Kompany
WATFORD (4-2-3-1): Gomes
6; Nyom 7, Prodl 6, Catchcart 6.5, Holebas 6.5; Behrami 7, Capoue 7
(Watson 76 6), Abdi 6 (Anya 63 6); Ighalo 6 (Layun 72 6), Jurado 6,
Deeney 6
Subs not used: Arlauskis, Hoban, Diamanti, Vydra
Booked: Nyom, Prodl
Referee: Mark Clattenburg
It's not even September yet but nobody would sensibly tip anyone else for the Premier League title.
City
are already three points clear having played just four matches and
£54million Wolfsburg flyer Kevin de Bruyne will sign as the final piece
in their jigsaw having been in Manchester to have his medical on
Saturday.
Pellegrini wrote in his pre-match programme notes that 'everything has gone to plan so far' and he wasn't kidding.
His side had won their opening games, scoring eight goals and conceding none, and his best players were all in good form.
However,
Watford manager Quique Sanchez Flores always promised to be a tricky
opponent having managed David Silva at Valencia and Sergio Aguero at
Atletico Madrid, and acutely aware of their threats.
Flores
devised a fluid system to counteract the City dazzlers with Jurado
playing as a false No9 and regular centre-forward Troy Deeney shifted
out the right flank.
Raheem Sterling jumps for joy after giving Manchester City the lead early in the second half against Watford at the Etihad
Sterling arrives on the edge of the six-yard box to turn home Bacary Sanga's cross to fire the home side ahead on 47 minutes
Sterling covers his face as he wheels
away in celebration after finding the target for the first time in a
City shirt in the Premier League
Former Liverpool forward Sterling jumps on Yaya Toure's back as the players celebrate Sterling's first goal for the club
To their credit, Watford stuck to their task gamely and it took City the entire first half to work them out.
Aguero
had an early shot charged down and then shot wide from 18 years as City
looked relatively uninspired against a newly-promoted side who had
started this season with three draws.
The
visitors even forced a couple of corners while Sterling was applauded
by City fans for diligently tracking back and stopping the dangerous
Odion Ighalo when he threatened on the break.
Sterling
also had two efforts on goal, one blocked and the other unconvincingly
turned around the post for a corner by Heurelho Gomes but at half-time
Pellegrini decided to make an important change.
Winger
Jesus Navas, whose place is most under threat by the arrival of de
Bruyne, made way for Samir Nasri and that allowed right-back Sagna the
full length of the right flank to attack.
Former Aston Villa midfielder Fabian
Delph was introduced as a second-half substitute to make his second
appearance for Manchester City
Manchester City's £49million signing Sterling gets his head up as he looks to beat Watford defender Sebastian Prodl
Aleksandar Kolarov appears to be in pain as Watford striker Troy Deeney challenges for the ball with his foot high
David Silva (right), who has started the season in magnificent form for Manchester City, protects the ball from Allan-Romeo Nyon
Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany is given a yellow card by referee Mark Clattenburg after diving into Jose Manuel Jurado
Manchester City winger Raheem Sterling (right) looks on a collision course with Watford defender Nyom
Within
two minutes, it worked a dream. Silva got a fortunate bounce of the
ball midway in the Watford half and typically made the most of it to
release Sagna.
The
former Arsenal right-back galloped forward and delivered an excellent
cross waist-high. And Sterling was alert in the middle to find space
between the two Watford centre-halves and steer a right foot volley
calmly past Gomes.
A
lack of goals has been highlighted as one of the weaknesses in
Sterling's game with the 20-year-old talking about it himself. And this
was his first strike since scoring for Liverpool against Newcastle 10
matches ago in mid-April.
Once the deadlock had been broken, any tension City felt disappeared and the great entertainers returned.
England international Sterling reacts with disappointment after seeing his effort blocked by Watford defender Craig Cathcart
Three Watford defenders attempt to
crowd out Sergio Aguero as the Manchester City striker looks to burst
away from their clutches
Watford full back Jose Holebas tangles with Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure as the pair battle for possession
They
scored a second goal after 57 minutes with Silva again involved.
Toure's free-kick was charged down but Fernandinho reacted quickest,
heading to Silva and the Spaniard played a delcious return ball into his
path.
The finish from the Brazilian was emphatic, a fierce angled drive from 18 yards that arced away from his compatriot Gomes.
Pellegrini
was able to give summer signing Fabian Delph his home debut with Silva
making way to a standing ovation 15 minutes from the end. 18-year-old
Nigerian forward Kelechi Iheancho also came on in injury-time for his
debut, wearing the No72 shirt.
Watford
did manage to get under the noses of City fans by sending on Ben Watson
as one of their substitutes. He famously scored an FA Cup final winner
for Wigan against the blue half of Manchester in 2013.
Watson's
presence was a minor irritation though. The big picture is that City
look unstoppable right now and the fans must be licking their lips at
the prospect of Sterling and de Bruyne working together.
Ivory Coast international Toure falls to the turf under a sliding challenge from Watford midfielder Valon Behrami
The Watford players come together for a group huddle ahead of trying to stop the Manchester City juggernaut at the Etihad
Manchester City manager Mauel Pellegrini (left) and Watford boss Quique Sanchez Flores exchange pleasantries before kick-off
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