Pablo Zabaleta and David Silva scored to earn Manchester City a first Premier League home win since September following a 2-0 success over Watford.
Argentine defender Zabaleta opened the scoring on 33 minutes with his first goal in two years before Silva made certain of the points four minutes from time after being teed up by Raheem Sterling.
Watford produced a lacklustre display but will rue a late miss from Odion Ighalo, a rare opportunity that could have changed the match when the deficit was just one.
City’s first win in three keeps them in fourth place and within seven points of leaders Chelsea ahead of Sunday’s crunch clash at home to title rivals Arsenal.
Watford drop down to 11th in the table and have now lost four of their last six top-flight matches.
Heurelho Gomes made an early save from De Bruyne following good link-up play with Sterling, while the goalkeeper also kept out Nolito’s effort after the resulting corner fell into his path.
Nolito tested Gomes again from a tight angle as City dominated possession and probed for a breakthrough.
