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Manchester City returned to form and increased Watford\u2019s relegation fears with a 4-0 win at Vicarage Road after Raheem Sterling hit a brace.<\/p>\nManchester City returned to form and increased Watford\u2019s relegation fears with a 4-0 win at Vicarage Road after Raheem Sterling hit a brace.<\/p>\n
Sterling netted his 28th and 29th goals of the season to help Pep Guardiola\u2019s side bounce back following Saturday\u2019s 2-0 FA Cup semi-final defeat to Arsenal.<\/p>\n
Phil Foden and Aymeric Laporte added further efforts in the second half to make it another miserable fixture for the Hornets against City, but it was a welcome result for 19th-placed Bournemouth who live to fight another day.<\/p>\n
Watford\u2019s interim head coach Hayden Mullins now knows they may need a positive result at Arsenal on Sunday to ensure the hard work done by Nigel Pearson \u2013 sacked last weekend \u2013 does not go to waste.<\/p>\n
City immediately pinned the hosts back at Vicarage Road, but the first opportunity of the evening went to the Hornets with 11 on the clock.<\/p>\n
Adrian Mariappa\u2019s long throw was only partially cleared by Joao Cancelo and Will Hughes was first to the loose ball and yet snatched at his effort to drag well wide.<\/p>\n
The visitors responded immediately and Ben Foster produced a wonderful save to tip wide Rodri\u2019s deflected effort from long range.<\/p>\n
Watford made it to the drinks breaks without conceding; progress after they had been 5-0 down after 18 minutes at the Etihad in September.<\/p>\n
The deadlock was eventually broken with 31 played by Sterling, who was an unused substitute when these sides last did battle.<\/p>\n
Foden\u2019s overhit cross was rescued by Kyle Walker on the right and although his center looked out of reach, Sterling trapped the ball with precision and smashed into the top corner to leave Foster with no chance.<\/p>\n
Once again the Hornets had conceded the opener \u2013 the ninth game in a row where they had shipped the first goal.<\/p>\n
And nine minutes later it was 2-0 with the floodgates well and truly open despite the best efforts of Foster.<\/p>\n
Sterling found space in the area and this time was clipped by Hughes, with referee Michael Oliver pointing to the spot.<\/p>\n
Despite Kevin De Bruyne being on the pitch, the England international took responsibility and even though Foster made a fantastic save, Sterling was first to the loose ball and tapped home for his 29th goal of the season.<\/p>\n
Craig Dawson tested Ederson with a header in first-half stoppage time but it was routine for the Brazilian and unfortunately for the hosts City showed no signs of slowing down after the break.<\/p>\n
Foster denied Gabriel Jesus before Mariappa appeared to block Bernardo Silva\u2019s shot with his hands a minute into the second period.<\/p>\n
It was not to matter for City though, with Foden volleying in with 62 played after Sterling was denied his hat-trick by Watford\u2019s number one.<\/p>\n
Guardiola replaced the attacker straight after and De Bruyne edged closer to Thierry Henry\u2019s Premier League assist record four minutes later.<\/p>\n
The Belgian\u2019s free-kick was headed home by Laporte at the back post to give City\u2019s captain for the night assist number 19 of the top-flight campaign.<\/p>\n
De Bruyne tried to move level with Henry\u2019s record of 20 from the 2002-03 term during the final exchanges at Vicarage Road, but Watford managed to prevent any more damage to their goal difference.<\/p>\n