Goals from Sergio Aguero and Kevin De Bruyne saw Manchester City get back to winning ways with a 2-0 victory over Sheffield United at the Etihad Stadium
It was not all straight forward for the hosts though as United, who caused City plenty of problems in the first half, thought they had taken the lead in the 29th minute through Lys Mousset, but his effort was ruled out by VAR for offside
After the break, City showed their clinical side as Aguero (52) and De Bruyne (82) produced emphatic finishes to end Chris Wilder's side's strong resistance and seal Pep Guardiola's 100th Premier League win
Victory moves City to within one point of second-placed Leicester and keeps the gap to league leaders Liverpool to 14 points
 Meanwhile, defeat ends a run of 18 consecutive away games without defeat for Sheffield United, who stay eighth, two points behind Manchester United in fifth
Sheffield United started in confident fashion as Callum Robinson's cross picked out strike partner Mousset, but the forward, who was under pressure from Oleksandr Zinchenko, headed wide from close range
Man City showed the danger they possess when Rodri slid the ball through for Riyad Mahrez
 The Algeria international cut inside Jack O'Connell in the penalty area but John Egan came to the rescue for the visitors with a crucial block
As expected at the Etihad, it was City dominating possession but Sheffield United were creating the more eye-catching chances, and they thought they'd taken the lead in the 29th minute
John Fleck's inch-perfect ball over the top released Mousset and he showed excellent composure to slide the ball under the onrushing Claudio Bravo and into the back of the net
 However, Man City breathed a huge sigh of relief as VAR showed Mousset to be fractionally beyond the final defender Fernandinho
The Blades continued to threaten, and Oliver Norwood's 50-yard pass released Mousset again, but on this occasion the striker failed to keep his cool, poking a right-footed shot into the side-netting
City failed to test Dean Henderson in the first half, but his first real action of the game was picking the ball out of his net as Aguero, who was put through by De Bruyne, fired a shot - the first shot on target of the game - past the goalkeeper and in at the near post
The goal left Chris Wilder and the Sheffield United players furious as they thought referee Chris Kavanagh obstructed Fleck, gifting possession straight to De Bruyne, but the ball did not strike the official, so VAR did not overturn the decision
City almost doubled their advantage in the 70th minute but Mahrez's goal bound shot was brilliantly blocked by Egan
 However, they eventually sealed all three points thanks to De Bruyne's strike eight minutes from time
De Bruyne started the move by finding Mahrez in behind the Sheffield United press
 Mahrez returned the favour to the Belgian, who cut inside Enda Stevens and onto his right foot before reversing his shot past Henderson
To sum up Sheffield United's evening, substitute Billy Sharp struck the post with a header late on, and there was to be no sting in the tail as City secured victory
Sheffield United midfielder  on City's first goal: "I think the ref was in the way! He's not meant to be there, but it's just one of those things
 No complaints
 We've had two or three great chances but it's not our day
 I think we have done well to be where we are and will look to continue in the second half of the season
"Sheffield United manager assessment of the opening goal: "Did it change the game? 100% it did
 I never felt we had to change shape
 We knew they had quality
 We bring this rule in if it touches the ref it's immediately stopped
"The ball is around him
 It's not a close decision
 It affects the game
 Nobody in the ground will debate his decision
 It affects the game
 He's in on goal and a fantastic finish
 He should do the sensible and correct thing
 I am not saying we would have won the game, or got a result, but it changes the game
"I don't mind that unbeaten run going today, and in the manner it did
 My team has heart and spirit - for a promoted side we have pushed them
 Looking at the manager, he was made up when the goals went in
 I'd imagine he would want to win a game of pool, or five-a-side
"Manchester City boss : "We had a short time to recover and faced a strong team
 Not just mentally but physically against Sheffield United
 And after when I was there 'wow' they are good in the long balls, defending
 It's not a secret whey they are in the table
"On a century of wins in the Premier League, he added: "Of course we proud of everything in these seasons, the incredible effort
 When you think about 100 wins in 134 games it is an incredible achievement
 It is nice to be alongside these big teams
 It means a lot
 Sometimes we lose perspective
 But when you have this perspective with how many games you see it
 We fight for 100 wins
 I am happy especially for the players
 They are the reason we won 100 games
"Sheffield United boss : "I'm proud of the team performance against a world-class side, that's what they are regardless of where Manchester City are in the league now
 Their team selection spoke volumes of their respect to us
 They played near enough their full XI and maybe another day we would have picked up a big result
"The unbeaten run ends and if it was going to end it would be something like this, here against a top side and when we stood up to the challenge as a promoted team
 We had an opportunity to play, we did that and they weren't half chances today, we had some really good chances
 not saying if scored we would have won the game but it would have given us a chance
"De Bruyne is in stunning form at the moment
He has been directly involved in 19 goals for Manchester City in the Premier League this season (seven goals and 12 assists) - only Leicester's Jamie Vardy has had a hand in more (20)
The Belgian has also made an assist in each of his last three Premier League games - indeed, of the four instances of a player assisting in three or more consecutive Premier League appearances this season, half of them have been by De Bruyne
Manchester City face Everton at the Etihad Stadium on New Year's Day; Kick-off at 5
30pm
Up next for Sheffield United is a trip to Anfield to face Liverpool; Kick-off at 8pm on January 2
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