It was precisely 39 seconds – the fastest goal in the Premier League this season – when Raheem Sterling put Pep Guardiola’s runaway leaders on their way to their customary easy win over hapless Watford.
City had beaten the Hornets 6-0 and 5-0 in their last two encounters so the comfortable margin of victory came as no surprise.
Marco Silva was just relieved it wasn’t more because City had enough chances to have easily handed his side another six-of-the-best beating.
Sterling’s 18th goal of the season was quickly followed by a Christian Kabasele own goal but City had to wait until the 63rd minute before adding their third goal when Sergio Aguero punished a blunder by Hereulo Gomes.
Aguero must wish he could play Watford every week – that’s 10 goals in six games against them now.
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Perhaps the biggest surprise was that the visitors, who spent almost the entire game defending, got a consolation near the end – Andre Gray tapping home Andre Carrillo’s cross.
The victory re-established City’s 15-point lead at the top – where they have been since that thrashing at Vicarage Road back in September.
But it continued Watford’s worrying tail-spin. It’s six defeats now in their last seven games and after spending the first half of the season mostly in the top half of the table, they are casting anxious glances over their shoulders and if they don’t improve soon they will be involved in a dog-fight.
It was so easy Guardiola was able to remove the returning John Stones and Kevin De Bruyne out of the action early.
There was no sense that City would ease off the pedal in the second half – Guardiola simply doesn’t allow that.
Aguero, who had scored a hat-trick in the 6-0 win at Vicarage Road earlier this season, should have punished Watford again when De Bruyne’s cross found him unmarked eight yards but but he glanced his header wide.
City’s record scorer then tried to dribble through Watford’s massed ranks but saw his shot deflected for a corner. Aguero then had a good shout for a penalty when he was brought down by Zeegelaar but referee Lee Mason decided not to inflict further punishment on the Hornets.
The pressure was constant and Janmaat did well to intercept as De Bruyne was abouot to pul the trigger after bursting into the box onto Silva’s pass.
Aguero finally got on the scoresheet after 63 minutes – thanks to a blunder by Gomes. He spilled De Bruyne’s cross and city’s record score pounced for an easy goal.