Manchester City rounded off the year – and decade – with a home win against Sheffield United this evening, bouncing back form the last-gasp defeat to Wolves on Friday.
Pep Guardiolahas not hidden his displeasure atCity’squick turnaround between tonight’s fixture and the Wolves defeat. His preparations won’t have been helped by Ederson’s early red card at Wolves, meaning City played with ten men for around minutes. The returningSergio Aguerostarted, withGabriel Jesusback on the bench following illness.
It was a tight first half, and City had VAR to thank for going in level at the break. Lys Mousset thought he had given Sheffield United the lead but it was disallowed for a margin offside on review. Sergio Aguero and Kevin de Bruyne scored in the second half to earn a fine 2-0 win.
We ‘ll bring you post-match reaction from the Etihad.
KEY EVENT
All the reaction from Man City 2-0 Sheff Utd**************************** (******************************************************************************************************************************************************************:More from Guardiola
Guardiola tells BBC Sport how his team deserve p raise for their performance today:
“The goal was a key moment and the second half was better, we attacked better, and finally won a tough game.
“After 48 hours we recovered for an incredible game and after more than minutes with 06 men we did it. So compliments to the team.
“But compliments to Sheffield United, they were amazing. This team is newly promoted and are sixth or seventh in the table, it is an incredible team.
“Now I must say thank you to the Premier League for giving us three days for the next game. ”
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In case you missed it today, Aymeric Laporte posted anencouraging injury update.
He’s clearly pleased with today’s win, too.
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Well, maybe John Fleck’s opinion ISN’T the view of Sheffield United. This is what manager Chris Wilder had to say about the decision.
He told BBC:
“It is definitely a game-changer.
” I thought the way the players stuck to the plan, played well out of possession and we had a threat the other way. When you come to Manchester City you have to take your opportunities and unfortunately we did.
“Yet again we had another goal disallowed by VAR, that’s about eight or nine over the weekeNd, this is not a situation helping the game and the small margins. ”
“I’ve been to see the referee and he has been honest about it. We make mistakes and I believe he made one too.
“It happened that quick and I thought he could have been been helped by his colleagues a little bit.
“We talk about the new rule where if the referee touches ball then he has to blow up, so surely if he is in the way and hinders us then he makes a sensible decision.
“If he made the sensible decision then I don’t think no-one in the ground would have said anything about it.”
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Fleck gives Sheffield United verdict on Aguero goal
Sheffield United wanted Sergio Aguero’s goal disallowed as the referee got in the way of play, but VAR disagreed as
Blades midfielder John Fleck says his side are disappointed, but understand the decision.
He said:
“I think the ref was in the way! He’s not meant to be there, but it’s just one of those things. No complaints.
“We’ve had two or three great chances but it’s not our day. I think we have done well to be where we are and look to do continue in the second half of the season. ”
He also told BBC Sport:
“I think I’ve been caught in an unfortunate moment, there are no complaints.
“Out on the pitch there is a lot of frustration but it is one of those things. I understand the rule if it hits him the game is stopped but not if he’s just in the way. It is unfortunate. ”
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This was not an ordinary home win, as Sheffield United aren’t used to losing on the road.
******************************************** (**************************************************************************************************************************************************************************:Aguero: scoring goals is easy in this team
Sergio Aguero says scoring goals is easy for City, as they boosted their hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League.
He said:
“Today we had to win. We happy because we need the three points. I play with good players so to score goals for me it is easy. Always Pep makes sure we focus every game and we are training hard. ”
*** Now Liverpool is too hard. We have to focus just on winning because we need to play Champions League next season. We have to play the same way and see what happens. ”
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******Player Ratings
Rodri and Kevin de Bruyne stood out as City signed off from in winning fashion.
Read Stuart Brennan’s post-match player ratings (HERE.) **************************************
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Ending (on a high)
Not a great game, nor a great performance but a very good result from City against a very good team. A positive way to end 01575879. ENDS
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Full time
There’s the whistle, and City move back to within a point of second with a strong second half performance.
Sergio Aguero and Kevin de Bruyne got the goals, and Pep Guardiola will be happy to have got through this one unscathed.
It’s Guardiola’s th Premier League win – achieved in record time – and the first time Sheffield United have lost away from home this season.
Ending (on a high.
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****************************************************** 728 1 ‘- City 2-0 Sheffield UnitedFour minutes added
We’ve already played two of them.
**************************************************(*************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************) ‘- City 2-0 Sheffield United
Billy Sharp thinks he’s got a consolation for Sheffield United – and so do the noisy traveling fans – but his header hits one post, bounces along the line, then goes out.
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Phil Foden plays a one-two with Gabriel Jesus and sees his shot saved out for a corner.
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(Final sub) Gabriel Jesus replaces Raheem Sterling.
******************************** 510 ‘- City 2-0 Sheffield UnitedFree kick City
Enda Stevens brings down Phil Foden from behind as he broke forward . Easy yellow card.
Billy Sharp is on for Sheffield United.
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Lovely goal !!
He gives it to Mahrez, gets it back in the area then checks back and wrong-foots the goalkeeper with his near-post effort.
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Visitors still searching
Mousset remains alive to anything and the scoreboard shows that so are Sheffield United.
Phil Foden coming on for the final 18 minutes as City look to control the tempo but they have Rodri to thank for turning that latest effort behind. (**********************************************
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‘- City 1-0 Sheffield United******
Aguero replaced
And Phil Foden comes on for ten minutes.
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************************************** 75 ‘- City 1-0 Sheffield United
Ollie McBurnie, the striker, is on for midfielder Mo Besic.
(************************************************************************************ ‘- City 1-0 Sheffield United ************************ Over the bar
Not for the first time today, Kevin de Bruyne sends it over the bar. Not too far off, mind.
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Free kick City
Riyad Mahrez wins a free kick in the ‘D’ on the edge of the area.
Deflected!
Riyad Mahrez takes aim but his shot is deflected out for a corner.
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‘- City 1-0 Sheffield United Simon Bajkowski
It looks like City may have got away with that goal.
According to a new rule introduced by lawmakers IFAB for this season that the Premier League are following, it should be a drop ball if the ball hits the referee.
It’s not clear whether the ref touched it – which should have been a drop ball – or just obstructed the Sheffield United player, which is just an unfortunate coincidence.
You’d like to back VAR on it but there’s no trust left in the technology. (************************************************
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******************************************************************************************** ‘- City 1-0 Sheffield United
City work the ball around the Sheffield United area, but can ‘ t create a chance. The the visitors break and cause City problems of their own.
The crowd respond and try to get behind City.
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Bernardo’s booking was his last action as Gundogan comes on to replace him.
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(Image: Manchester City FC via Getty Images)
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