Manchester City 3 Watford 1 : Sterling Hat Trick

This was like watching so many other games at the Etihad this season as Manchester City worked hard to break down a stubborn Watford.

Manchester City got exactly what they deserved out of this match as they spent the whole game searching and probing for goal scoring opportunities. And Watford got exactly what they deserved too – absolutely nothing.

We are used to teams coming with little ambition but Watford took time wasting tactics to new levels. It was probably not a good sign when they took to the pitch dressed like a whole team of goal keepers. Every corner and set piece was spent delaying playing the ball throughout the first half. The referee did nothing to hurry up the tactics and then added a solitary minute to extra time at the end of the first half, much to the ire of the City fans who booed him off at half time.

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Otherwise in the first half, City lacked a killer touch and were guilty of missing pace and intensity in their play in the Final third. This was taking the sting out of the game and allowing Watford time to defend in numbers.

City came close with efforts from Mahrez and David Silva. The best chance fell to Sergio Aguero who somehow glanced his header wide from 6 feet out.

The second half started in a blur and within minutes City were in front thanks to some neat interplay between Aguero and Raheem Sterling. Sterling clipped the ball past the Watford keeper and the stadium erupted but the celebrations were cut short as the lineman raised his flag for offside. What followed were some genuine confusing moments for us fans in the stands as the referee went to the linesman and eventually signalled a goal.

Within minutes of the restart and City were two goals to the good. This time there was no doubt about the goal as Mahrez whipped in a pass and Sterling stood unmarked 2 feet out to claim his second.

And then Sterling got his 3rd goal which was the pick of the bunch as he dribbled past challenges in the area, came inside and lifted his shot over the on rushing keeper. This was a wonderful goal which was full of confidence and showcased his much improved composure.

By now Watford decided time wasting was a bit pointless and introduced some urgency to their play. They made a double substitution and quickly scored a goal following a mistake by Otamendi who simply failed to clear his lines.

That goal brought some belief to the Watford approach and there were a worrying few minutes as they launched high balls at us but we withstood their attacks and dealt well with the increasingly desperate passes.

City wrestled back control of the game and played some keep ball to take the sting out of Watford. We were unlucky not to add another goal after a number of pacey breaks after some lung busting runs by Bernardo.

Next. Manchester City 3 Watford 1 Player Ratings and MOTM. dark

All in all this was a good victory and we ran out comfortable winners without playing great. We do not play another League game until 30 March and by then Liverpool will have played 2 matches so could well be back in the lead but right now Raheem Sterling is not only top of the League but 4 points clear.

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