Manchester City

3.39

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  1

  1

  3.50

  Costel Pantilimon

  The goalkeeper's handling was tested, especially early in the game, but he came through it with no problems and showed why Roberto Mancini had no qualms throwing him in for Joe Hart.

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  1

  1

  3.00

  Gael Clichy

  Marco Cassetti did not truly believe he had the beating of Clichy, so it was a relatively quiet afternoon for the defender. He defended as you would expect and pressed the ball well when needed.

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  1

  1

  3.50

  Joleon Lescott

  Did struggle up against the pace of Matej Vydra on the break, but is always susceptible to that and it is nothing new. Otherwise, looked to attack the space in front where Watford were dropping balls into Troy Deeney and did so well, intercepting on numerous occasions.

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  1

  1

  3.50

  Pablo Zabaleta

  Picked up an inexplicably stupid booking in the first half for dissent. Attacked well, careering down the right, and defended adequately while Fernado Forestieri did manage to roam into the space Zabaleta was supposed to occupy.

• 
  2

  1

  3.50

  Vincent Kompany

  The poor early season form is a thing of the past and he is forever one of City's better performers. Won the physical battle with Deeney when required and when a spare man, chose to venture forward to kick-start attacks. The only time he was really beaten, Deeney almost punished him.

• 
  2

  1

  3.50

  David Silva

  Sometimes had to track back, and did so brilliantly. In the attacking third he is a wizard at work, obvious in the build-up to the second goal, skipping beyond his man to play James Milner into the box.

• 
  2

  1

  3.50

  Gareth Barry

  Always does the simple things well from deep, but managed to get himself forward more than usual and scored the all-important second goal to kill the game off, arriving in the box to head past the goalkeeper.

• 
  1

  1

  3.50

  James Milner

  Started in a midfield three, but because of Watford's expansive formation, Milner enjoyed himself by playing with more width. He was a constant thorn in Daniel Pudil's side, consistently testing the visitors with tricky runs and crosses.

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  1

  1

  3.50

  Javi García

  Could be criticised for not imposing himself on the game more, but Garcia did what was asked of him from deep: get it and give it, to keep the ball moving. While he does not light up matches, his positional sense is excellent and he could flourish in 2013.

• 
  6

  1

  4.00

  Carlos Tévez Top of the Match

  The striker scored a wondrous free kick, like Leighton Baines a few days ago, in one of the few moments of genuine class. After that he looked busy, often creating chances for others and was at the centre of all that was good about City's attacking.

• 
  3

  0

  2.50

  Edin Dzeko

  Again, another disappointing performance from the start for Dzeko, as so often has been the case this season. Looked lethargic and Joel Ekstrand won the battle between the two.

Substitutions

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  2

  1

  3.00

  Scott Sinclair

  Does the fact he was not given a chance from the start tell some sort of story? Sinclair came on, took up good positions, but lacked a true final ball.

• 
  6

  1

  3.50

  Marcos Lopes

  Could not have wished to announce himself to the home crowd any better - scoring with his first touch late on the round off the victory nicely. Showed good awareness to get in there to finish.

• 
  5

  1

  3.50

  Mario Balotelli

  Brought on in the second half to rapturous applause, showing that the training ground incident this week has not stopped the supporters loving the striker. Showed for the ball and wanted to impress, with his late shot being parried for Maros Lopes' goal.

Watford

2.73

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  0

  1

  3.00

  Jonathan Bond

  His only Watford action before this was a defeat against Bradford City, but Bond looked like he belonged, making a couple of smart saves, commanding his area well and dealing with set pieces without fuss.

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  0

  1

  2.50

  Lloyd Doyley

  In a fluid formation, Doyley was asked to play in between centre-half and right-back, depending on how deep Watford were defending, and he was caught out by sliding runs on his outside.

• 
  0

  1

  3.50

  L. Ekstrand

  Chose to hold his position on the left-hand side of central defence rather than chase runners, and it proved effective. The Swede had to carry his partner Nyron Nosworthy for spells and was the last line of defence when slips were made.

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  0

  1

  2.50

  Marco Cassetti

  Did not really believe that when he got over the halfway line, he could beat Gael Clichy round the outside for pace, which limited the midfielder to early crosses, which mostly found Costel Pantilimon.

• 
  2

  1

  3.00

  Nathaniel Chalobah

  Every Championship team needs a leggy midfielder able to get box-to-box and serve have the engine of two men. Chalobah was that man today, and worked hard for his team without having the quality desired.

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  0

  1

  2.00

  Nyron Nosworthy Flop of the Match

  Completely outclassed by the inventive opposition, Nosworthy's last ditch tackles when one-on-one masked what was a cumbersome performance that fans of Sunderland will be very aware of.

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  0

  1

  2.00

  Daniel Pudil

  Pudil is possibly the least defensive-minded full-back you are likely to see, often caught far too high up the pitch in trying to nick a goal before he was brought off at half-time.

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  0

  1

  3.00

  John Eustace

  A very dangerous tackler of the ball, Eustace was booked in the first half which thankfully softened his game and nobody was in serious danger. He is like Karl Henry, but a little bit worse, but has a purpose as the anchorman in this side and did well on the ball.

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  0

  1

  3.00

  Fernando Forestieri

  Was put clean through just after City scored their first goal and if he had found the net, this might have been a different game. But he fluffed his lines, and did so a couple of times in front of goal, even though his play before then was productive.

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  0

  1

  3.50

  Matěj Vydra

  The maverick of the Watford side, Vydra has the pace and trickery to hurt teams as he so often does in the league. While he is a touch lightweight, most of the Hornets' bright moments revolved around the Czech.

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  0

  1

  3.00

  Troy Deeney

  Looked an isolated figure in the second half when Watford tried to keep the score down, but put himself about and is a nuisance in the air. Posed a goalscoring threat but had little opportunity to score.

Substitutions

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  0

  1

  2.00

  Neuton

  Came on at left-back for Daniel Pudil and did not fare much better, with Pablo Zabalata having the time of his life down the right for City.

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  0

  1

  Cristian Battocchio

  Late substitute.

• 
  0

  1

  2.50

  Geoffrey Mujangi-Bia

  Poor first touch put Watford in bad positions at times, but put himself about and tried to ruffle some feathers.