Hart fires title warning after City comeback

Yaya Toure and Sergio Aguero left it until late to give the visitors a vital win at Vicarage Road, and their No. 1 believes the result was crucial for the club.

Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart believes his side's last-ditch comeback victory over Watford sent out a warning to the rest of the Premier League.

The England international was beaten after 55 minutes at Vicarage Road on Saturday, as Aleksandar Kolarov put through his own net to give Watford the lead.

However, two quickfire late goals - in the 82nd and 84th minutes, from Yaya Toure and Sergio Aguero - gave City reward for their persistence as they turned the game on its head to win 2-1.

The result hinted at the character within the City squad, who moved back to within three points of leaders Arsenal at the top of the table.

And asked after the match whether such a fight back was a sign that they could go all the way and recapture the title they last won in 2013-14, Hart was bullish. 

"We believe that and we want to make it happen," he told Sky Sports.

"Everyone is going to do their own season and no one is really going to care what I say, but that today is a big moment for us.

"It [the way they came back] can only be a good thing - but we have to build on this now.

"We are in a good place and are utilising the strength in our squad. We are not where we want to be yet, but we are close."

Victory ended City's poor recent record on the road, with Manuel Pellegrini's side having failed to win in their previous six away games in the Premier League.

But Hart insisted he was never overly concerned when they fell behind to Kolarov's own goal 10 minutes into the second half.

"I know it [a comeback] is in us," he added. "We are capable of doing that.

"The Stoke game [a 2-0 defeat on December 5] and games like that give you a bad feeling.

Goalkeeper Joe Hart pleased after Manchester City end winless run in away games

London: Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart is pleased that they have ended a six-match winless away run in the English Premier League (EPL) with a 2-1 win over Watford at the Vicarage Road in London.

City's last win away came against Crystal Palace on September 12, since then their away performance has witnessed lossess against Tottenham Hotspur, Stoke City and Arsenal. They were only thriving at home to be in title contention.

On Saturday night too they conceded early with an Aleksandar Kolarov (55th minute), but City snatched victory with two late goals from Yaya Toure (82nd) and Sergio Aguero (84th) to bring an end to a poor away record.

With this win, City remain one point short of second-placed Leicester City and three behind leaders Arsenal.

"We’ve got to build on this now -- this result can only be good for us because it ends a run of six Premier League games in a row without a win which isn’t title-winning form, but we’ve somehow managed to stay in the hunt," Hart told his club's website mcfc.com.

“We’ve still got all the clubs who are around us to come to the Etihad (Stadium) and I think we’re in a good place. We’ve got a big (Capital One) Cup game (semi-final against Everton) to come now this week and even though we’re not where we want to be, we’re close and this was a big result for us.”

The England international picked out defender Bacary Sagna for special praise.

“I think great credit needs to go to Bacary Sagna tonight. He's played a lot of games because of Pablo Zabaleta being injured so for him to be flying down the wing like a steam train so late in the game and then put in a cross like that for Sergio to score from is fantastic. He has done so much for the team this season,” said Hart said about the France international.