SM
Watford vs. Oxford Utd: 10 hrs 9 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
MC
Premier League | Gameweek 1
Jan 20, 2021 at 6pm UK
Etihad Stadium
AV

Man City
2 - 0
Aston Villa

Silva (79'), Gundogan (90' pen.)
FT(HT: 0-0)

McGinn (67'), Taylor (86'), Smith (81')
Smith (81')

Bernardo Silva: 'We must continue our impressive form'

:Headline: Bernardo Silva: 'We must continue our impressive form': ID:431500: from db_amp
City underlined their growing title credentials as they claimed a sixth successive Premier League win over Aston Villa.

Bernardo Silva feels confidence is now flowing through Manchester City as their momentum continues to gather.

City underlined their growing title credentials as they claimed a sixth successive Premier League win with a hard-fought – and controversial – 2-0 success over Aston Villa at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday.

The result briefly took them to the top of the table – before Manchester United returned to the summit with victory later in the evening – and Silva is hungry for the run to carry on.

"I think the team is doing very well, especially lately," said the Portuguese, who broke the deadlock on a rain-soaked night with a contentious 79th-minute strike.

"The team is very solid at the moment, not just the defenders but the midfielders and the strikers.

"We are doing a very good job and the atmosphere in the dressing room, around the place, around the staff, is very good at the moment. We have to keep it up at this level.

"There are tough games ahead but we are going to try to keep doing our job."

Silva struck from the edge of the area after Rodri robbed Mings (Martin Rickett/PA)

Silva's goal was the main talking point of the evening and led to Villa manager Dean Smith being sent off.

It came after Rodri ran back from an offside position to tackle Tyrone Mings. The Spaniard won the ball and played in Silva, who slammed a ferocious shot into the top corner from the edge of the box.

Villa protested, believing Rodri to have been offside, but referee Jon Moss ruled he was entitled to challenge for possession once Mings had controlled the ball. Smith was shown yellow and red cards in quick succession in the arguments that followed.

Villa boss Dean Smith was sent off in the arguments that followed Silva's opener (Martin Rickett/PA)

Subsequent analysis suggests Moss interpreted the laws correctly but that did not prevent Villa from feeling aggrieved.

"None of us knew that was a rule," said Villa defender Ezri Konsa. "Now we are aware of that we won't do it in the future.

"It is difficult for Tyrone Mings. There is a man coming from offside so he thought he could take a touch and try to play but obviously, apparently, as soon as he takes a touch Rodri is onside.

"We all believed he was offside and were very frustrated with that decision."

Silva did not wish to dwell on the decision and felt City deserved their victory – rubber-stamped by a last-minute Ilkay Gundogan penalty – after creating numerous chances throughout the game.

Silva said: "What I think happened was that our player was offside but when the defender controls the ball he stops being offside.

"I don't know if this is the rule but that's what I thought in the moment. If there is VAR and if the referee decided it that way it is because everything was clear.

"It was (a relief) to score. It was a tough game for us, especially the first half. We played against a very good side, a side that this season has proved to be very tough.

"At the end we were happy to score two goals and get the three points."

Until Silva's goal, Villa had acquitted themselves well on their first team's first outing since New Year's Day following a Covid-19 outbreak at the club.

Konsa said: "Us as players know we put in a great shift against a top team. We knew coming back after three days training we were going to have to work hard. I thought we did that."

amp_article__431500 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2021-01-21 12:50:16:
html db last update - 2021-01-21 12:50:16 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html
Read more!

Click here for more stories about Bernardo Silva

Click here for more stories about Manchester City

Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool108111961325
2Manchester CityMan City1072121111023
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Fulham104331413115
10Bournemouth104331312115
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
12Brentford104151920-113
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd10334912-312
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .