<p class="title rtejustify">Manchester City opened up a five-point lead at the top of the table with a seventh straight Premier League victory, but were made to work for a 2-1 win at Watford on Tuesday.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">City's goals came either side of half-time as Leroy Sane chested home to end Watford's resistance before Riyad Mahrez swept home early in the second period.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">However, they had to withstand a nervy finish after Abdoulaye Doucoure bundled home five minutes from time.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">"It was a good old Premier League game, as soon as they scored long balls start coming, they are extremely physical up front," said City captain Vincent Kompany.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">"We managed the game pretty well. You can't win every game playing fantasy football."</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">Pep Guardiola made six changes to his starting line-up despite also missing Sergio Aguero and Kevin De Bruyne through injury.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">Yet, City were still too strong for the dogged hosts for the vast majority of the game with Watford thankful to goalkeeper Ben Foster for the visitors not racking up the 5-0 and 6-0 thrashings they did on their two previous visits to Vicarage Road.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">Guardiola changed his entire back four from Saturday's 3-1 win over Bournemouth and left the in-form Raheem Sterling on the bench for the full 90 minutes.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">Mahrez came in for the England international and the luxury of options on offer to Guardiola was obvious as both his wide men found the net in Sterling's absence.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">However, Watford were left to rue their chances before the break against a City defence that appeared to miss Aymeric Laporte as the Frenchman was rotated for the first time in the league this season.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">Roberto Pereyra has already produced some spectacular goals for the Hornets this season and the Argentine was inches away from another when he curled just wide inside 10 minutes.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">City soon took control, though, and Foster made a brilliant save to deny Sane after the German had intercepted a wayward Pereyra pass.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">The former England international also spread himself well to claw away Mahrez's attempted dink over the 'keeper.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">Yet, the best save of the opening half came down the other end when Ederson stretched out his left foot to block Troy Deeney's effort from point-blank range.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">Moments later, City were finally in front. Mahrez's cross picked out Sane unmarked at the back post and he cleverly used his chest to power the ball below Foster.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">Six minutes into the second half, the visitors struck again when Gabriel Jesus -- who endured another lean night in front of goal in the absence of Aguero -- at least made a contribution as a provider by pulling the ball back for Mahrez to fire home.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">City got uncharacteristically slack in the final quarter, though, and were made to pay when Doucoure finally turned home after a goalmouth scramble.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">Guardiola was forced to throw on Laporte and Nicolas Otamendi in the closing stages to repel Watford's aerial assault, but City held on. </p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">Elsewhere, Bournemouth moved above Manchester United, who host Arsenal on Wednesday, up to sixth thanks to a 2-1 win over Huddersfield.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">Callum Wilson and Ryan Fraser continued their fine personal seasons by giving the hosts a 2-0 lead inside 22 minutes before Terence Kongolo pulled a goal back for the Terriers.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">Brighton edged into the top half as despite playing for over an hour with 10 men, they beat Crystal Palace 3-1.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">The hosts led 1-0 through Glenn Murray's penalty before Shane Duffy saw a straight red, but further goals before half-time from Leon Balogun and Florin Andone sealed the three points despite Luka Milivojevic's late consolation from the penalty spot.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">West Ham's upward trajectory also continued as three goals in 12 second-half minutes beat Cardiff 3-1.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">Lucas Perez replaced the injured Marko Arnautovic in the first half and went onto score his first two league goals since a summer move from Arsenal before Michail Antonio added a third.</p>
<p class="title rtejustify">Manchester City opened up a five-point lead at the top of the table with a seventh straight Premier League victory, but were made to work for a 2-1 win at Watford on Tuesday.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">City's goals came either side of half-time as Leroy Sane chested home to end Watford's resistance before Riyad Mahrez swept home early in the second period.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">However, they had to withstand a nervy finish after Abdoulaye Doucoure bundled home five minutes from time.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">"It was a good old Premier League game, as soon as they scored long balls start coming, they are extremely physical up front," said City captain Vincent Kompany.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">"We managed the game pretty well. You can't win every game playing fantasy football."</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">Pep Guardiola made six changes to his starting line-up despite also missing Sergio Aguero and Kevin De Bruyne through injury.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">Yet, City were still too strong for the dogged hosts for the vast majority of the game with Watford thankful to goalkeeper Ben Foster for the visitors not racking up the 5-0 and 6-0 thrashings they did on their two previous visits to Vicarage Road.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">Guardiola changed his entire back four from Saturday's 3-1 win over Bournemouth and left the in-form Raheem Sterling on the bench for the full 90 minutes.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">Mahrez came in for the England international and the luxury of options on offer to Guardiola was obvious as both his wide men found the net in Sterling's absence.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">However, Watford were left to rue their chances before the break against a City defence that appeared to miss Aymeric Laporte as the Frenchman was rotated for the first time in the league this season.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">Roberto Pereyra has already produced some spectacular goals for the Hornets this season and the Argentine was inches away from another when he curled just wide inside 10 minutes.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">City soon took control, though, and Foster made a brilliant save to deny Sane after the German had intercepted a wayward Pereyra pass.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">The former England international also spread himself well to claw away Mahrez's attempted dink over the 'keeper.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">Yet, the best save of the opening half came down the other end when Ederson stretched out his left foot to block Troy Deeney's effort from point-blank range.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">Moments later, City were finally in front. Mahrez's cross picked out Sane unmarked at the back post and he cleverly used his chest to power the ball below Foster.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">Six minutes into the second half, the visitors struck again when Gabriel Jesus -- who endured another lean night in front of goal in the absence of Aguero -- at least made a contribution as a provider by pulling the ball back for Mahrez to fire home.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">City got uncharacteristically slack in the final quarter, though, and were made to pay when Doucoure finally turned home after a goalmouth scramble.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">Guardiola was forced to throw on Laporte and Nicolas Otamendi in the closing stages to repel Watford's aerial assault, but City held on. </p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">Elsewhere, Bournemouth moved above Manchester United, who host Arsenal on Wednesday, up to sixth thanks to a 2-1 win over Huddersfield.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">Callum Wilson and Ryan Fraser continued their fine personal seasons by giving the hosts a 2-0 lead inside 22 minutes before Terence Kongolo pulled a goal back for the Terriers.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">Brighton edged into the top half as despite playing for over an hour with 10 men, they beat Crystal Palace 3-1.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">The hosts led 1-0 through Glenn Murray's penalty before Shane Duffy saw a straight red, but further goals before half-time from Leon Balogun and Florin Andone sealed the three points despite Luka Milivojevic's late consolation from the penalty spot.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">West Ham's upward trajectory also continued as three goals in 12 second-half minutes beat Cardiff 3-1.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">Lucas Perez replaced the injured Marko Arnautovic in the first half and went onto score his first two league goals since a summer move from Arsenal before Michail Antonio added a third.</p>