Manchester City secured a first clean-sheet home win since 26 October
Manchester City will start 2020 14 points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool after returning to winning ways against Sheffield United at Etihad Stadium.
City were lacklustre before scoring with their first shot on target in the 53rd minute, Sergio Aguero's fine finish finding the top corner after a Kevin de Bruyne assist.
United were upset the goal was allowed to stand as referee Chris Kavanagh appeared to get in the way of John Fleck who miscontrolled the ball which allowed De Bruyne to set up Aguero.
De Bruyne added the second with a clinical finish from Riyad Mahrez's pass before Sheffield United substitute Billy Sharp headed against a post in the closing moments.
Earlier, Lys Mousset wasted a glorious chance for the visitors when he fired into the side netting.
French forward Mousset also had a goal ruled out for a marginal offside when the game was goalless.
- Reaction from Etihad Stadium
This was a day when the result was more important than the performance for Pep Guardiola's side after Friday's capitulation at Wolves where City led 2-0 before losing 3-2.
More to follow.
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Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text
Line-ups
Man City
1Bravo
2Walker
25Fernandinho
50García
11Zinchenko
17De Bruyne
16Rodri
20Bernardo SilvaBooked at 59minsSubstituted forGündoganat 62'minutes
26Mahrez
10AgüeroSubstituted forFodenat 81'minutes
7SterlingSubstituted forGabriel Jesusat 88'minutes
Substitutes
8Gündogan
9Gabriel Jesus
22Mendy
27Cancelo
30Otamendi
33Carson
47Foden
Sheff Utd
1Henderson
6Basham
12Egan
5O'Connell
2Baldock
27BesicSubstituted forMcBurnieat 75'minutes
16Norwood
4Fleck
3StevensBooked at 85mins
22MoussetSubstituted forSharpat 83'minutes
11RobinsonSubstituted forMcGoldrickat 59'minutes
Substitutes
8Freeman
9McBurnie
10Sharp
15Jagielka
17McGoldrick
21Verrips
23Osborn
Referee:
Chris Kavanagh
Attendance:
54,512
Match Stats
Home TeamMan CityAway TeamSheff Utd
Possession
Home73%
Away27%
Shots
Home16
Away8
Shots on Target
Home4
Away0
Corners
Home8
Away5
Fouls
Home5
Away6
Live Text
Posted at
Match ends, Manchester City 2, Sheffield United 0.
Full TimePosted at 90'+5'
Second Half ends, Manchester City 2, Sheffield United 0.
Posted at 90'+4'
Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 90'+4'
Foul by John Egan (Sheffield United).
Posted at 90'+1'
Billy Sharp (Sheffield United) hits the left post with a header from the centre of the box. Assisted by Enda Stevens with a through ball.
Posted at 88'
Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Dean Henderson.
Posted at 88'
Attempt saved. Phil Foden (Manchester City) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Gabriel Jesus.
SubstitutionPosted at 88'
Substitution, Manchester City. Gabriel Jesus replaces Raheem Sterling.
Posted at 87'
Raheem Sterling (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 87'
Foul by George Baldock (Sheffield United).
Posted at 86'
Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Oliver McBurnie.
Posted at 86'
Attempt blocked. Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
BookingPosted at 85'
Enda Stevens (Sheffield United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Posted at 85'
Phil Foden (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 85'
Foul by Enda Stevens (Sheffield United).
SubstitutionPosted at 83'
Substitution, Sheffield United. Billy Sharp replaces Lys Mousset.
Goal!Posted at 82'
Goal! Manchester City 2, Sheffield United 0. Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Riyad Mahrez.
SubstitutionPosted at 81'
Substitution, Manchester City. Phil Foden replaces Sergio Agüero.
Posted at 79'
Offside, Sheffield United. John Egan tries a through ball, but Oliver McBurnie is caught offside.
Posted at 78'
Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Rodrigo.
Posted at 78'
Attempt blocked. Lys Mousset (Sheffield United) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Oliver Norwood with a headed pass.
SubstitutionPosted at 75'
Substitution, Sheffield United. Oliver McBurnie replaces Muhamed Besic.
Posted at 75'
Attempt missed. Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses the top left corner from a direct free kick.
Posted at 74'
Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 74'
Foul by John Egan (Sheffield United).
Posted at 70'
Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by John Egan.
Posted at 70'
Attempt blocked. Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Raheem Sterling.
Posted at 68'
Offside, Sheffield United. Oliver Norwood tries a through ball, but Enda Stevens is caught offside.
Posted at 65'
Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 65'
Foul by Enda Stevens (Sheffield United).
Posted at 64'
Foul by Fernandinho (Manchester City).
Posted at 64'
John Fleck (Sheffield United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Posted at 64'
Foul by Kyle Walker (Manchester City).
Posted at 64'
Enda Stevens (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
SubstitutionPosted at 62'
Substitution, Manchester City. Ilkay Gündogan replaces Bernardo Silva.
SubstitutionPosted at 59'
Substitution, Sheffield United. David McGoldrick replaces Callum Robinson.
BookingPosted at 59'
Bernardo Silva (Manchester City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Posted at 59'
Foul by Bernardo Silva (Manchester City).
Posted at 59'
John Fleck (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 56'
Offside, Sheffield United. Chris Basham tries a through ball, but Lys Mousset is caught offside.
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Source: bbc.com