26 October 2024
Man City 1 Southampton 0
Man City welcomed bottom of the table Southampton to The Etihad, as they looked to go above Liverpool in the Premier League table. Things are looking bleak for The Saints as they remain winless in the campaign, knowing that anything but victory against the defending champions would result in their worst start to a league season.
Guardiola’s side are not one to show sympathy for their opponents. From the off they looked to pile the pressure on the visitors. Nunes was making a rare start and got down the left to pick out Haaland in the middle with a teasing cross. The big Norwegian wanted it more than his marker and beat Ramsdale to open the scoring with only five minutes on the clock.
At this point Southampton’s future looked about as positive as the 50,000 Oasis fans who had received emails to say that their tickets for the much-anticipated reunion tour had been cancelled. Despite this, Noel Gallagher could be seen in the crowd beaming from ear to ear. With plenty of the game remaining, most were expecting a hammering for The Saints.
City continued to press and as the ball broke to the edge of the box from a Savinho cross, Kovacic looked to test Ramsdale in the Southampton goal. The former Arsenal stopper managed to beat it away as it moved viciously in the air. The visitors had offered so little in an attacking sense as they camped out in their own half, trying to stay in the game.
Finally The Saints managed to venture forward and check that Ederson was still in the Man City goal. As a sublime pass set Archer away as he used his pace to stay ahead of the hosts’ defenders. Bearing down on goal, he got his shot away, only to see it crack against the crossbar and go wide. It would have been the ultimate sucker punch in a half that the hosts had dominated.
After the interval, Man City continued to find it easy to carve open the Southampton defence. Savinho glided past a number of players down the right wing before playing it into the path of Foden. He cut inside onto his left foot and fired a shot off at goal. It narrowly missed the near post with Ramsdale scrambling across his goal trying to get something on it.
Haaland was dominating The Saints’ defence in the air and was only denied a second goal as it was cleared off the line with Ramsdale beaten. Man City recycled the ball well and a cross picked out the Norwegian once again. This time the visitors’ keeper was able to make a comfortable save to take some of the pressure off his side.
Nunes put a curling ball into the back post and Haaland appeared from nowhere. It seemed certain that he would double his side’s lead but somehow, he put his effort wide. He held his head in his hands wondering what had just happened. It still seemed it would be just a matter of time before City got another goal and the floodgates opened.
Southampton just could not cope with the Man City striker. He rose once again at the back post but could only head harmlessly across goal with the empty target at his mercy. Moments later, the ball was played into his path as Ramsdale came racing off his line. The keeper got down well to smother the shot from Haaland.
In a rare attack, Armstrong had a brief glimpse of goal but blazed his shot over the bar. These are the fine margins that can prove pivotal at this level. Credit where it is due, having conceded so early on, The Saints did well to keep the scoreline respectable. Man City struggled to break them down and could only create half-chances in the main.
Not that any of this will act as any consolation come the final day of the season. Nobody is given points for losing by narrow margins in the top-flight. Southampton may take some confidence from the defeat and it will certainly take some of the pressure off manager Russell Martin. That said, The Saints already find themselves five points from safety at this early stage of the season.
With games coming up against Everton and Wolves, you kind of feel he needs to get some points from these matches. Clubs are always quick to pull the trigger and get rid of their managers when things are not going well. It seems a bizarre knee-jerk reaction as Martin has built a bond with this squad and it is a tough ask for a new man to gel with them immediately.
Man City took the three points and leapfrogged Liverpool at the top of the table. If Arne Slot’s side could not win at Arsenal the following day, it would prove to be a successful weekend for Pep Guardiola’s side. They have to travel to Anfield this month and could be the difference between needing to just avoid defeat against The Reds.
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