Manchester City vs Sheffield United. Premier League.
Etihad Stadium.
Report and highlights as Gabriel Jesus scores the only goal of the game as top-of-the-table Manchester City beat bottom club Sheffield United 1-0 at the Etihad Stadium
Sunday 31 January 2021 07:03, UK
Gabriel Jesus ended a nine-game Premier League goal drought to help Man City to a club-record 12th win a row as they beat Sheffield United 1-0 to extend their lead at the top of the table.
The Brazilian tucked in from close range just nine minutes into the contest after some woeful Sheffield United defending and that proved to be the decisive strike, with the visitors largely keeping their dominant hosts at bay - although it took a superb Aaron Ramsdale stop in the final seconds to deny Jesus a second.
Following Manchester United's draw at Arsenal later on Saturday, City sit three points clear at the top of the table with a game in hand on their neighbours and are now unbeaten in 19 matches across all competitions.
Sheffield United remain bottom of the table, 10 points from safety, and now face a crucial test against fellow strugglers West Brom at Bramall Lane on Tuesday evening.
Sheffield United's hopes of repeating their midweek giant-killing over Manchester United against City at the Etihad were dealt a blow almost instantly - but the visitors had only themselves to blame.
Jayden Bogle and Ethan Ampadu inexplicably allowed Ferran Torres to squeeze past them in the box to tee up Jesus, who was left unmarked by Chris Basham six yards out.
There was almost another costly mistake soon after when Oliver Norwood attempted to head the ball back to Ramsdale and Bernardo Silva pounced but the City midfielder's own header was easily gathered by the goalkeeper.
Despite those early lapses, Sheffield United bounced back to produce an impressive defensive display for the remainder of the half, managing to contain a stylish City side, which had 75 per cent of the ball, to just three efforts in the opening 45 minutes.
City's dominance of possession and territory resumed after the break but so did their struggles to create clear-cut chances, with Ruben Dias' off-target header a rare moment of danger, while Bogle's sliced shot on the hour mark at the other end gave Pep Guardiola's side a scare.
The hosts were missing the creativity of the injured Kevin De Bruyne and clinical finishing of COVID-positive Sergio Aguero but tested Ramsdale twice in quick succession midway through the second half with an Oleksandr Zinchenko drive and an Aymeric Laporte header.
John Fleck came close to grabbing a late equaliser for United inside the final five minutes when he fired a left-foot shot narrowly wide of the far post from 20 yards out.
But City had the final chance, with Ramsdale pulling off a brilliant stop to deny Jesus a one-on-one, and the Blades' focus now turns to a must-win game with West Brom in midweek.
Man City boss Pep Guardiola: "[It was] so difficult [to] win, like we knew it [would be]. An incredible victory for us. It's amazing after this run of games for us, eight victories in a row, 12 in all competitions, still the players run and fight like animals.
"We conceded one action at the end that was dangerous. Every time we play against them we struggle a lot.
"The team was incredibly committed, didn't make mistakes. They were focused on the second balls, the long balls, we won a lot of duels and we lack a little bit to create chances but it's so difficult because they defend with 10 players, defending all the space inside. And that is not easy and after, with the ball, they know exactly what to do. A huge victory for us."
Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder: "We've not been cut open or undone by an unbelievable bit of brilliance which, the players you're up against today can produce at any time, so we're a little bit disappointed. Today, the name of the game was to stay in the game as long as possible, which we did, try to open up late on, which we did.
"I don't want a pat on the back for getting beat but if people think we can come here and open up from the off then you know what's going to happen. But you saw a team that's alive, that's got a desire to play and compete. They're a really good group, they stick together. It could have become quite a long afternoon but it didn't. We grew into the game and stayed in the game.
"Our season isn't going to be defined by what happened today. You've seen a team that's fighting for their lives and cause some teams in this division some problems."
Sky Sports' Andy Hinchcliffe:
"It wasn't a sparkling City performance but Fernandinho has knitted everything together so brilliantly in that holding midfield role. He's such an important player for this team. He gives the attacking players freedom, he's there to help out defensively, and it was another really solid display from him.
"In years gone by players like Fernandinho went under the radar and nobody noticed what they did but now they are so, so important to every team."
Man City are away at Burnley on Wednesday for a 6pm kick-off, while Sheffield United host West Brom on Tuesday at 6pm.
