Manchester City victorious over Sheffield Utd with help from Aguero and De Bruyne

Third-placed City's sharpness in front of goal was decisive as Guardiola picked up his milestone 100th Premier League win

Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne (right) scores his side's second goal of the game during the Premier League match at The Etihad Stadium, Manchester. PA Photo. Picture date: Sunday December 29, 2019. See PA story SOCCER Man City. Photo credit should read: Martin Rickett/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: EDITORIAL USE ONLY No use with unauthorised audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications.Show less

Manchester City returned to its winning ways on Sunday with Sergio Aguero and Kevin De Bruyne on target in the second half against Sheffield United.

Pep Guardiola's side beat Sheffield 2-0 at the Etihad Stadium in a Premier League game that included even more Var controversy.

It was an impressive performance from Chris Wilder's promoted side, who were unbeaten away in the league, but in the end third-placed City's sharpness in front of goal was decisive as Guardiola picked up his 100th Premier League win.

His century was achieved in 134 games, a Premier League record that bettered Jose Mourinho's 100 in 142 games.

United began strongly and looked to have grabbed the lead through Lys Mousset in the 28th minute, but the goal was ruled out after a Var review found the slimmest offside margin.

Moments later both sets of supporters expressed their opposition to the system in a loud, united chant.

"Yet again we had another goal disallowed by Var," Wilder said. "That's about eight or nine over the weekend. This is not a situation helping the game with the small margins.

"But I will leave that for everyone else to talk about because I have said too much about it."

Third-placed City, beaten 3-2 by Wolverhampton Wanderers on Friday and now still 14 points behind runaway leaders Liverpool, finally went ahead in the 52nd minute through Aguero, who blasted the ball home after it was slipped in by De Bruyne.

The United players argued furiously that the ball had struck referee Chris Kavanagh during the build-up and a drop ball should have been called but after a brief review the goal stood.

The images suggested Kavanagh merely obstructed a United player rather than made contact with the ball but Wilder said commonsense should have been used.

"We talk about the new rule where if the referee touches the ball then he has to blow up, so surely if he is in the way and hinders us then he makes a sensible decision," said Wilder, whose side are eighth on 29 points after 20 games.

"If he made the sensible decision then I don't think anyone in the ground would have said anything about it."

City wrapped up the win, which leaves them a point behind Leicester City who have 42, in the 82nd minute when De Bruyne drove home after a swift counter-attack by Riyad Mahrez.

"Today I realised why Sheffield are in the position they are in the table and didn’t lose one game away," Guardiola said.

"We had problems but in the second half we were much better, and in these type of games if the first 'goal' was not offside it would have been very difficult.

"Fortunately we could score two goals and win."