THIS has been an unusually uplifting 24 hours in the life of Manchester City. Not only did Manchester United go out of the FA Cup, but last night the team in blue did more than enough to avoid the same fate.

For the first time this season, City have won two consecutive games. Naturally there were a few nervous moments, particularly in the second half after Watford's equaliser, but City will entertain Middlesbrough in the fifth round on Saturday week.

The highlight, if so it could be called, of the furious but clumsy opening exchanges was the 19th-minute booking for Neil Heaney for a foul on the sprightly Bazeley. From the subsequent free-kick came the game's first significant chance and one Watford were soon to regret not taking.

From Clint Easton's in-swinging centre Richard Johnson evaded his marker but managed only the flimsiest of contacts from six yards when one-on-one with Martyn Margetson, and within five minutes City were ahead.

Georgi Kinkladze, too infrequent a contributor to be a major influence in the first half, did at least take the panic-spreading corner kick which led to the goal. Uwe Rosler's header was blocked and the ball fell to Heaney, whose shot from 10 yards passed between several desperate pairs of legs before crossing the line.

City's right-back Lee Crooks then collected the ball 40 yards out and galloped another 10 before clattering a shot towards the top corner, where Watford's coveted goalkeeper Kevin Miller dived impressively to tip it away.

City found themselves in a familiarly insecure position soon after the" interval, particularly when Easton put a half-volley narrowly wide, but Watford's hopes of a comeback seemed to come to an abrupt end in the 53rd minute when Steve Palmer, a Cambridge graduate, was sent off for punching Steve Lomas. So much for higher education.

That was the cue for 18 minutes of mayhem, with Kinkladze becoming the fourth City player to be cautioned for a trip on Easton.

But then Eddie McGoldrick dallied and the 10 men managed to equalise. Easton fed Gifton Noel Williams, who took his time but eventually scored. Typical City, we thought, yet in the 61st minute they regained the lead when Nicky Summerbee lashed in a pass from Kinkladze after a typical jink and dummy from the Georgian.

Ten minutes later City sealed victory and their passage into the next round when Rosler ran on to another neat pass by Kinkladze and dispatched an assured shot tow past Miller.

So City stretched their unbeaten run to six matches since Frank Clark took over.