"We never give up, we have a lot of character.”
, Manuel Pellegrini – 02/01/2016.
Let’s not dress this up, this was not a good performance, indeed the first half was woeful. Bereft of any sense of tempo or purpose for the first forty five minutes, City were dragged down a level and taught a lesson through Watford’s experience of playing there. The pitch and conditions no doubt played some part, but City players could simply not cope with Watford’s persistence in closing down, and tenacity to get to the second ball. City player’s attempts to match Watford by trying to keep the ball off the ground simply fell flat, and with the defence regressing to showing the problems already well documented with the lack of Vincent Kompany, I would have gladly taken 0-0 from this game as the sides went into half time goalless.
Of greater worry was that the half time team talk seemed to have been "try more of the same", and for the first ten minutes of the second half Watford dominated.
City’s first meaningful chance came on 53’ with, Fernandhino latching unchallenged onto Silva’s corner from the left, only to send the header over the bar. But three minutes later City were 1-0 down. Referee Atkinson had been interpreting the physical tussle between Mangala and Ighalo to the Watford players benefit all game, and on 56’ when Ighalo blatantly pushed Mangala as the ball sped towards the bye-line, it came as no surprise that Atkinson pointed for a Watford corner rather than a City free-kick. From the resulting kick, none other than Ben “90th Minute” Watson curled the ball inwards onto Kolorov’s head, who bizarrely nodded the ball on passed a helpless Joe Hart; 1-0 Watford.
At that point, with a Season low flat performance and Watford with their tails up, no one, including me, would have given City a chance of a point let alone all three. City toiled against the flow for another twenty minutes. The introduction of Navas on 60’ had made little difference. The City threat, such as it was, came from De Bruyne on the left, but other than a half chance on 68’ when De Bruyne knocked the ball low for Toure to hit high right, Watford’s more direct attacks looked the more likely to bring further goals.
Then on seventy minutes, Manuel Pellegrini decided he had finally seen enough; withdrawing centre half Mangala, and replacing him with forward Bony. For the next ten minutes City played 3-5-2, albeit that Fernandhino withdrew 10 yards behind what amounted to six attacking players. For the first time in the game the wings were being used by City to stretch the play, and the space infield was being exploited by Toure, Silva, and Aguero.
The breakthrough came from a set piece on 81’. Kolorov, who even without the own goal was having the poorest of games, drove in a fabulous corner from the left, at perfect height for a diving head, or in the case of Yaya Toure a deft left foot volley into the top left hand corner of the net; 1-1. It was a world class goal on night of industrial football, and lit up the City team like a New Year Eve rocket.
Two minutes later, and the transformation in fortunes were complete. Sagna played the cross from near to the right bye-line, and three Watford defenders watched as Sergio Aguero rose to nod the ball low right passed Gomes for City’s second; 1-2. Job done, Demichelis quickly replaced Aguero and City reverted to 4-5-1 to see out an unexpected victory.
So City start 2016 with a much needed away win. Whether a move of genius or desperation, Manuel Pellegrini “the engineer” had acted on what he had seen, and it worked. City are three points, rather than six behind Arsenal (who’s own difficulties in defeating Newcastle at home will no doubt be glossed over in Sunday paper’s), and only a point behind second placed Leicester. Result. However lessons are not being learned about starting games slowly, especially away from home. In this topsy turvy league where all teams will show tenacity and endeavour, and where television investment means all teams have players of skill and guile, you need to show respect and kill games early, else it costs you.
@l0ngwayfr0mh0me
Etihad Stadium Manchester
