An own goal from Aleksander Kolorov wasn't enough to give Watford another surprise three points at the expense of Manuel Pellegrini's Manchester City, as goals from Yaya Toure and Sergio Aguero late in the second half secured the Citizens a 2-1 victory in the most extraordinary of circumstances.
Normal service resumed
If anyone expected Quique Sanchez Flores' Watford to be intimidated by the visit of Manchester City, they were soon proved wrong as the Hornets settled into the game with the trademark confidence they’ve shown throughout the Premier League campaign so far.
As early as the second minute, some good work from José Juardo in the middle of the pitch allowed Almen Abdi a chance to bring the ball forward and have a sight at goal. His snapshot flew over the bar and failed to trouble Joe Hart in the City goal, but it was a signal of Watford’s intent.
It was frantic game, as expected, from the outset, but it was Watford that had the best of the chances in the opening 20 minutes of the first half thanks to some nervy City defending.
In the 11th minute, a dreadful attempted pass from Nicolas Otamendi resulted in Watford stealing the ball back. The Hornets’ captain Troy Deeney was through on goal but Kolorov did well to get muscle him off the ball. There were brief protests - more from the crowd than the players - but referee Martin Atkinson rightly waved away the claims.
Just a few minutes later, a nice passing move from Watford allowed Odion Ighalo time to receive the ball to feet in the six-yard box. His first touch was delightful, and the following piece of skill turned Otamendi inside out. With just Hart to beat, the England shot stopper rushed off his line and smothered the ball. City just about managed to scramble the ball away, but the warning signs were there.
Weathering the storm
After a tough opening 25 minutes, Pellegrini’s side gradually managed to assert themselves in the match. First, David Silva found space down the right, wriggling his way into the penalty area. Unfortunately for the away fans, he was unable to find Aguero, but just moments later there was a chance for Raheem Sterling as the City pressure began to build; Silva linked up well with Fernandinho, but after Watford failed to clear, the ex-Liverpool winger’s attempted finish in the area was blasted over the bar.
Once again, however, the momentum quickly switched; after a good 10 minutes of sustained pressure from the Citizens, Watford finally found themselves knocking the ball around once more, after their defence had shown why they have been very difficult to break down this season - and City's forwards had continued to struggle finding the back of the net.
All in all, as the players left the field, Flores' side will probably have been the happier - just - but the teams were still locked in a stalemate after a lively, entertaining 45 minutes.
No let up at Vicarage Road
Almost instantly after the restart, Ben Watson managed to get a shot away from the edge of the area which was going wide, but Hart was taking no chances, tipping it around the post for a corner. Watford had continued the same way they started the first half, knocking the ball around with confidence but not quite creating any clear cut chances.
In the 54th minute, City really should have found themselves in the lead; a Silva corner finding Fernandinho unmarked in the box. The City man could only fire it over the bar, however, and he really should have done better with the chance.
Hornets force the issue
Moments later, City were made to pay for their miss. Some strong running from Ighalo forced a corner which Watson whipped in; a real vicious, in-swinging delivery. The ball was glanced on by Kolorov, and in a blink of an eye, it was in the back of the net for an own goal. Vicarage Road rocked again, as the Hornets had the lead.
The action, seemingly impossibly, ratched up another couple of notches, as both sides kept pushing and creating chances at both ends. First, Watford's Jose Holebas, jinking his way past two City defenders, before unleashing a shot that takes a deflection off and going wide.
At the other end, with just 25 minutes left in the game and the onus on Pellegrini's side to get an equaliser, the ball arrowed towards Fernandinho on the edge of the six-yard box. Etienne Capoue did just enough to knock him off his stride and prevent City from levelling the match. Fernandinho went ground and appealed for a penalty, but once more the referee was correct in waving away the protests.
City try turn the screw
On 70 minutes, a nice piece of interplay from De Bruyne and Aguero on the edge of the box allowed the ex-Wolfsburg man some space on the edge of the box. His shot was a good one, stinging the palms of Heurelho Gomes as he tipped it behind for a corner - but City had once again started to turn the screw.
With ten minutes left on the clock, Watford nearly put the game beyond doubt as Capoue moved forward into the City area with nice feet - but the Citizens just managed to scramble the ball away.
Pellegrini made changes, most notably taking off Eliaquim Mangala - after a day to forget for the City defender - for Wilfried Bony, but to seemingly to no avail, the Hornets defence remaining as firm as they have all campaign.
A stunning comeback
With just eight minutes on the clock, however, Pellegrini's men finally got their breakthrough - the goal coming from another corner. This time, Kolorov, redeeming himself for his earlier error, but the ball into the area where Toure waited. He swung a foot at it, connecting with a lovely finish into the top left of Gomes' goal. Watford disappointed, City elated, and the scores were level at 1-1.
All of a sudden, perhaps inevitably, as Pellegrini's players pressed for victory. Just moments later, incredibly, and against the run of play, they had the lead. Bacary Sagna's in-swinging cross from the right side of the field was floated in, and a wonderful header from Aguero made the difference. City led in the most astonishing of circumstances.
Watford huffed and they puffed in the final few minutes - as befits their spirit in the Premier League this season - but it wasn't to be for Flores' side. Pellegrini's players had masterminded a wonderful comeback, to the utter disappointment of the Watford fans filtering out of Vicarage Road.