Man City 4-2 Watford - Sergio Aguero Hat-Trick Preserves Quadruple Dream

A Sergio Aguero hat-trick and a clanger from goalkeeper Jonathan Bond helped Manchester City come from behind against Watford and reach the FA Cup fifth round. Fernando Forestieri had earlier put the visitors in front after 21 minutes when a through ball from Troy Deeney sent him one on one with Costel Pantilimon, slotting his effort into the bottom corner. And a mere nine minutes later, the travelling fans were in raptures when Ikechi Anya's cleverly-worked pass found Deeney who bundled into the back of the net from close range. But the Hornets were ultimately undone in the second half as City avoided a huge upset to keep intact their 100% home record and quadruple dream.

Watford started the game brightly and pressed in the opening exchanges as City seemed rattled, unable to impose themselves in the first period after managing just two shots on target. Those came from Jack Rodwell and Aguero, with the duo seeing a right footed effort from the edge of the box and a close ranged drive respectively thwarted by Bond. Instead, the goals came from Gino Pozzo's men, when two counter attacks yielded the output they deserved as the predatory Forestieri and Deeney struck from deep inside the box. Watford were more than worthy of their lead as the half-time whistle blew on a fearless performance against last year's FA Cup finalists. But City predictably entered the second half with much more purpose and an inspired Aguero performance sparked a complete turnaround thanks in no small part to Bond's blunder.

Pellegrini's men began the second half with more attacking intent, and the Sky Blues soon had a sniff of a comeback when Aguero swept in Aleksander Kolarov's cross from the right. Aguero then added a second 11 minutes from time when he curled his effort in from the edge of the box to put City in the ascendancy, and then came Bond's dreadful clanger. Kolarov let loose the most speculative of efforts from way out, yet the daisycutter somehow bobbled in past the bewildered Bond to give City the lead. Aguero would then bag a third, and his side's fourth, after nodding in Jesus Navas's cross from the right flank to put the game beyond reach as Watford cruelly slipped out of the FA cup.