Foster 'over the moon' Watford were only 5-0 down to Man City at half-time

Despite trailing 5-0 to Manchester City at half-time on Saturday, Watford goalkeeper Ben Foster admits he was 'over the moon' Pep Guardiola's side hadn't brought up double digits in the first 45 minutes at the Etihad. 

Beaten five times after just 18 minutes, Foster can't be blamed for thinking even worse was to come as Manchester City hit top gear having been defeat 3-2 by Norwich in their previous league match. 

As it was, Guardiola's men ended the match as 8-0 winners with Foster relieved that the scoreline wasn't any worse. 

“It was absolutely no fun. As a goalie, coming here in the first place, it’s almost an achievement to keep it at one or two goals," Foster said post-match. 

"Like all the best laid plans, after 50 seconds, it went straight out of the window, and it was carnage. To go 5-0 down after less than 20 minutes, I was thinking ‘God, this could be double digits’. I was over the moon to get in at 5-0 at half-time.

"From a goalie’s point of view, it was just relentless. You could see them opening us up and the chances developing in front of your eyes. It could have been a cricket score. They’re without doubt the best team I’ve ever faced."

While the Hornets, who sit bottom of the Premier League with just two points from their first six games, managed to avoid conceding double digits, Foster is convinced City will smash a team by such a margin soon enough. 

“They will do it to somebody - there will be a nine or 10 out there soon,” he said.  

“What makes them so devastating? Their aggression, they are always on it, always on the front foot. Nobody gets a second to think about it. Our players are getting the ball passed to them, and before they know what to do with it, they’ve got a Man City player attacking them. They all do it together. Their shape is incredible.

“They’re all absolute specimens of men. If you look at them, they’re all the same sort of build, not the tallest, but they are all so strong and rapid. Their acceleration and touch is incredible."

Guardiola's side have now scored 24 goals this season, seven more than league leaders Liverpool and six times more than Watford. 

After striking 106 times in the 2017-18 season, City only found the back of the net 95 times in ther last league campaign and are now well on track to hit triple digits once again.