Make no bones about it: Manchester City were far from good in their 2-1 victory over Watford on Saturday. When the Hornets scored midway through the second half to take the lead, there were few visiting fans who were expecting to come away from Vicarage Road with three points, yet two moments of brilliance ensured just that.
Yaya Toure — who had been underwhelming up to that point — fired in a shot at the near post from a corner, and 2½ minutes later the visitors were in front thanks to a sublime header from Sergio Aguero. The Argentine had been largely feeding on scraps before that and hadn’t worried Heurelho Gomes in the slightest, until the goalkeeper was picking the ball out of his net for a second time.
Whether it was a “performance of champions,” as the cliche goes, or whether it was merely a lucky afternoon is something that remains to be seen. However, it gets the monkey off Manuel Pellegrini’s back as it becomes his first win away from home in the Premier League since September. If the Chilean is to take the title, this result could be the turning point.
They might need to improve for their next game.
