Manchester City 2-0 Watford: Pablo Zabaleta scores first club goal in over two years as Pep Guardiola's men ease to victor

Relief for Pep Guardiola but agony for Ilkay Gundogan who could now miss the rest of the season after suffering a serious knee injury in Manchester City's victory at the Etihad.

City's £20million summer signing was hurt when he launched into an awkward challenge on Watford's Nordin Amrabat before half-time.

Gundogan, who had surgery on a dislocated right kneecap in May and did not make his City debut until mid-September, went down holding the same leg.

Pablo Zabaleta reacted quickest to Kevin De Bruyne's cross to lash past Heurelho Gomes to take the lead for Manchester City

It was Zabaleta's first goal for City since December 2014 when he scored in a Champions League game against Roma 

David Silva added a second goal late on when he was played through by England international Raheem Sterling

He fears the worst news. He's so sad. He wanted to try (to play on) but he put his hand up and said it wasn't good.'

The injury overshadowed City's first home win in the Premier League for 88 days on a nervy night at the Etihad.

Guardiola had taken the blame for his team's troubles and insisted that he was not immune to the sack, but Pablo Zabaleta and David Silva scored to end 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

Zabaleta's goal in the 33rd minute was his first in the Premier League in more than two years.

Nolito started the move, sliding the ball out to Kevin 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 Heurelho Gomes.

'As a full-back you go into a game thinking you have to defend, but when you have the chance to go forward especially at the far post and attack the space, it is good,' said Zabaleta. 'It was a great cross from Kevin De Bruyne and a good finish for a f

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

'It was not the prettiest game but we had determination to win the game. We had the clean sheet we've been talking about and were solid defensively. We were really good at the back and we took our chances. We deserved to win.'

There is no doubt City were helped by facing a tame Watford side who were happy to defend deep for long periods and did not trouble Claudio Bravo until late in the game.

Etienne Capoue brought a rare save from the City goalkeeper after Miguel Britos had got his head to a freekick midway through the second half, but 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.

He punches the air as he goes over to the jubilant City supporters inside the Etihad Stadium

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

Silva made sure of victory two minutes later to calm an increasingly restless Etihad crowd who had earlier seen Raheem Sterling clip the bar with a rising shot after a surging run to the edge of the penalty box.

Sebastian Prodl was caught in possession on the halfway line and City broke forward quickly. Silva exchanged passes with Sterling before taking aim and burying his shot past Gomes.

So three points for Guardiola and only a third clean sheet in the league this season. It's just a pity it came at such a price.  

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