The Premier League’s basement club defended with their lives, but the Blues were far from our best on a hugely frustrating afternoon for Pep Guardiola’s side.
Despite dominating from start to finish, the home side repelled everything City could throw at them to take the point that means they won’t equal the previous worst tally by a Premier League club.
What happened?
The first 45 minutes was one-way traffic as City passed and probed a Southampton side camped in and around their own box for almost the entire half.
The hosts’ incentive was surely to secure at least a point and therefore beat the previous worst Premier League tally of 11 set by Derby County.
The number of bodies blocking the route to goal meant Aaron Ramsdale was rarely tested in what was a largely forgettable opening half.
It was crucial the Blues introduced more urgency, with the danger that the longer the game stayed goalless, the more desperate our need for a breakthrough would become.
And that’s exactly what happened.
Guardiola introduced Jeremy Doku for the start of the second period in a bid to pep up our attack which had laboured somewhat in the south coast heat.
City tried to add more zip and dynamism, but chances were still few and far between, with the Southampton players and supporters believing more and more they could get something out of the game with each passing minute.
Doku was causing problems on the left and on 63 minutes, he darted into the box, pulled the ball back and Bernardo’s effort was hacked clear by Jack Stephens.
It wasn’t clearcut but it had been the best chance of the game so far.
Southampton began to get a little more adventurous as the game entered its final quarter, with the home support sensing a shock result.
The Blues needed a slice of luck or something different with the home side looking fairly comfortable despite the relentless pressure.
On 76 minutes, it seemed City must score as Haaland broke into the box, but his low cross somehow dissected subs Nico O’Reilly and Savinho with neither able to connect and the goal gaping.
On 84 minutes, Bernardo’s cross found the head of Ruben Dias, but his effort was palmed over by Ramsdale.
The shots began to come thick and fast on Ramsdale’s goal, but time and time again it seemed to strike a Southampton player or miss the target.
A minute into added time, Omar Marmoush saw a fierce shot strike the crossbar - it was a day when the ball just wouldn’t go in the net.
The cheers from the home supporters at the end perhaps were evidence of how little they have had to cheer this season.
For City, it felt like an opportunity missed.
TEAMS
SAINTS XI: Ramsdale; Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Stephens; Bree, Downes, Ugochukwu (Aribo 46), Welington (Manning 88); Fernandes (Smallbone 90+3), Sulemana (Stewart 88); Dibling (Archer 66)
Subs: McCarthy, Onuachu, Sugawara, Wood-Gordon
CITY XI: Ederson, Lewis (O’Reilly 76 )Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol, Kovacic (Marmoush 84), De Bruyne (C), Bernardo, McAtee (Doku 46), Foden (Savinho 75), Haaland
Subs: Ortega Moreno, Grealish, Nico, Gundogan, Nunes
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PEP REACTION
“[It was] difficult. We had chances but unfortunately couldn’t score. [Southampton were] playing to defend and defend and defend and waste time. We take that point still, it’s in our hands.
“Didn’t expect them to defend so deep. Defensive we were so good but unfortunately we missed the last actions.
“Erling didn’t expect to play as any minutes but the way the game was played we needed people in the box.
“That point was really important.”
What it means
Given Southampton’s form and position, this will be considered as two points dropped.
City are still third, but this result opens up the door for Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest to make up ground in the battle for a top five finish.
Chelsea and Newcastle meet tomorrow afternoon and if either wins, they will go above the Blues.
What’s next?
City will pause the pursuit of a Champions League berth next Saturday as we compete in the FA Cup final against Crystal Palace at Wembley.
The game kicks off at 16:30 (UK) with the Blues looking to secure a second piece of silverware after the Community Shield win last August.
The following Tuesday, we host Bournemouth in what will be Kevin De Bruyne’s final home game in a City shirt.
That game kicks off at 20:00 (UK).
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