Dan takes a look at Saints defeat at home to Champions League hopefuls Manchester City who came saw and conquered.
Southampton were simply outclassed when they were beaten 3-0 at St.Mary’s on Saturday thanks to second half goals from Vincent Kompany, Leroy Sane, and Sergio Aguero. Saints competed well with their opposition in the first-half and were able to handle them in a half without a shot on target from either side, however it was proven that they were a side fighting for the Champions League as City’s superb play in the second half blew Southampton away who hadn’t really shown up.
City had the first chance of the game when a cross from left-back Gael Clichy went looking for in-form Sergio Aguero but the Argentine couldn’t make clear contact with the ball as his touch put the ball out for a goal kick. Perhaps a header would’ve had more likeliness for a goal in the visitors’ favour.
Aguero missed another chance not too soon afterwards as Kevin De Bruyne’s ball found Aguero in the box, however his low shot went a few inches wide of Fraser Forster’s bottom right corner.
Afterwards it was Southampton’s turn to try and score with arguably the best chance of the game. A clever ball from Ryan Bertrand found Manolo Gabbidaini, who had returned to the starting line-up after groin trouble, on the left wing. The striker managed to find Dusan Tadic but the midfielder ballooned the ball over Claudio Bravo’s crossbar from about 12 yards out.
David Silva failed to score City’s best chance of the second half as Aguero’s deflected pass flew over the Southampton players’ heads to find an unmarked David Silva but luckily his shot hit the side netting instead of the back of the net.
Fraser Forster, who has been in revived form of late, did exceptionally well when PFA Young player of the Year nominee Leroy Sane was put in a one-on-one position attempted to go around the goalkeeper who got a crucial touch on the ball to put it out for a corner.
I think all Southampton fans would’ve been pleased with a 0-0 score line at half-time however City came out the stronger side after the interval as an early corner from David Silva was met by the head of Vincent Kompany who put the ball in the back of the net; Forster will know that he should’ve done better as his attempt to stop the goal was weak.
After the match, Claude Puel was ridiculed by the Saints fans as a double substitution with 30 minutes left saw Ward-Prowse and Gabbiadini be taken off for Boufal and Long which ruined any chance of the Saints getting back into the game.
City had a good opportunity to double their lead as Forster’s close-range save from Sergio Aguero parried to David Silva who’s shot was blocked well by the ankle of Jack Stephens and the ball was cleared by the Saints defence.
Southampton should’ve made them pay and equalise as a perfect cross from Steven Davis found the head of Maya Yoshida but his header was straight at Bravo who caught the ball comfortably.
Then it was Southampton who were made to pay by missing a chance as a fantastic counter-attack from Manchester City saw two vs one as De Bruyne and Sane ran at Cedric. De Bruyne put the ball on a plate for Sane who tapped it into the back of the net to double the visitors’ lead.
Soon after it was an undeserved 3-0 for City as Kevin De Bruyne chipped up the ball for the head of Aguero.
The defeat keeps Saints in ninth spot and it doesn’t ruin their season. City needed the points more and it was more important to take the points from the Hawthorns last weekend than from this game; any would’ve been an absolute bonus. I think that 3-0 flatters City a bit despite a dominant performance in the second-half. Claude Puel’s tactics were wrong, especially with the double substitution.
Too many big players didn’t turn up on Saturday, however Jack Stephens was very impressive and handled a world-class striker like Sergio Aguero fantastically well. He deserves his spot in the team and is improving game by game.