You don’t need to coach Pablo Zabaleta how to tackle. Turns out you don’t need to teach him how to score goals either.
On a night when Pep Guardiola needed a result and, preferably, a clean sheet as well, the Argentine defender helped deliver both as he scored in the Premier League goal for the first time in more than two years.
David Silva added a late second and that was enough to give Guardiola his first home win in the league since mid-September and halt a mini crisis at the Etihad.
Nordin Amrabat (left) and Gael Clichy tussle for possession in the opening minutes of Wednesday night's clash
Watford's Heurelho Gomes was brought into action early on through pressure from Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne
Daryl Janmaat had to scramble back towards his own as Nicolas Otamendi followed in his attacking team-mate
Ilkay Gundogan manages to hold off Adiene Guedioura as City look to break forward during the first half
Sebastian Prodl offers a helping hand to City playmaker David Silva after the Spain international went down
Their frustration was also directed at Roberto Pereyra who twice stopped play by going to ground after colliding with Pablo Zabaleta before he was replaced by Juan Zuniga.
City also had to make a change before half-time. Much has been made of Guardiola’s comments about ‘not coaching tackling’, and Ilkay Gundogan went into his challenge on Nordin Amrabat at an awkward angle. The German came off worse and limped off shortly afterwards.
By then City were already a goal to the good with Zabaleta the unlikely scorer.
Guedioura manages to get to the ball ahead of England international Raheem Sterlingas the two challenged for the ball
Odion Igahlo finds a way past Yaya Toure as the striker aims to make a run into the City penalty area
Watford manager Walter Mazzarri sends out instructions to his players in the first half as Pep Guardiola watches on
City's Zabaleta reacts the quickest to meet a cross from De Bruyne before drilling a right-footed shot past Gomes
Zabaleta celebrates after scoring his first goal for City since December 2014 when he scored against Roma
Nolito started the move in the 33rd minute, sliding the ball out to De Bruyne on the left. The Belgian’s sudden burst of pace gave him the space he needed to clip over a cross that avoided everyone and landed perfectly for Zabaleta at the far post, and the Argentine side-footed the ball into the ground and beyond Gomes.
Yaya Toure fired narrowly over before half-time and Raheem Sterling went closest to extending City’s lead after the restart when his surging run to the edge of the box ended with a rising shot that clipped the top of the bar.
Watford struggled to mount a since attack of note and when Adlene Guedioura had an opportunity to test Bravo with a freekick from 35 yards he blasted his attempt high into the stands.
He punches the air as he goes over to the jubilant City supporters inside the Etihad Stadium
Zabaleta had looked out of favour earlier in the season and the way he celebrated against Watford showed what it meant
The goal typified City's effort and determination during the first half as they tried desperately to score
The City captain pointed to his name on the back of his shirt as the supporters behind him celebrated
Despite Zabaleta's goal, City boss Guardiola was keen to make sure that his players' heads wouldn't drop
Silva uses his skill to keep the ball under close control before attempting to spark yet another City attack
Sterling uses his skill to control the ball before taking it past Guedioura who tries his best to pressure him off the ball
Etienne Capoue then brought a rare save from Bravo after Miguel Britos had got his head to another freekick.
Their best chance arrived in the 83rd minute when Amrabat got down the right and put in a great cross for Odion Ighalo who guided his first-time effort inches over from eight yards out.
City made the visitors pay just two minutes later. Sebastian Prodl was caught in possession on the halfway line and City broke forward. The Spaniard exchanged passes with Sterling before burying his shot.
Three points for Guardiola and only a third clean sheet in the league this season. He can breathe easy again.
Ighalo takes down Sterling after he produced yet another piece of brilliance with City pushing for a second
Assistant referee Mark Clattenburg watches over Mazzarri as the Watford boss lets out his frustration
Nordin Amrabat tries to get away from City's Fernando as Watford try frantically to create chances to score
City's players fail to clear their lines and Watford come close to scoring an equaliser late on at the Etihad
Silva sealed all three points when he controlled Sterling's cross and placed a left-footed shot into the corner of Gomes' net
It sparked great scenes of celebration with Sterling the first to race towards the Spain international
