Manchester City 0-0 Southampton: Shot-shy Man City fortunate to draw with Saints

Last update on. From the section Premier League
City had scored 16 goals in the three previous home games, but they did not score a single goal against Saints until the 90th minutes. They failed to score a goal in the Premier League in April 2012 against Arsenal.

Strangely, a timid Manchester City couldn't find a way past a determined Southampton side. They were fortunate to draw despite the loud backing from the Etihad Stadium.

City did not score a single goal until the 90th minute. They were slow in possession and lacking their usual spark in attack. Saints will feel that they should have left Manchester with all three points.

On the hour mark, Kyle Walker was sent to the stands for bundling Adam Armstrong in the box. However, both of these decisions were overturned by VAR and Jon Moss who viewed replays.

Armstrong had rushed into the box after City had given the ball away again cheaply. However, Walker was not the first to touch the ball and Armstrong was adjudged to be fouled.

The City supporters were already making their voices heard throughout the afternoon and this reprieve drew a loud response, but it was not enough to galvanise them.

City thought they had won the match when Raheem sterling followed up on Phil Foden's save, but he was flagged offside after converting the loose ball. A lengthy VAR check didn't overrule the decision.

Saints are still winless after sharing points in four league games. City is three points behind leader Liverpool with the draw.

A vibrant crowd, but the City looks lethargic

Pep Guardiola was frustrated by the 90 minutes, but he can't argue that his fans didn't do their part.

Any suggestion that Guardiola's midweek comments to City fans asking for more tickets to the game could have caused a rift between supporters and him was quickly dispelled.

Within 70 seconds of kickoff, the City crowd, a near-capacity 53,000.00, embraced their manager, singing "we’re glad all around, we’ve got Guardiola" throughout.

Guardiola may have intended to inspire the crowd immediately. However, while the crowd was vibrant, Guardiola's players seemed lethargic for long periods against a well-organized and hard-working Southampton team.

It wasn't just one-way traffic. City had to be cautious about Tino Livramento’s frequent moves forward down the right. Adam Armstrong impressed with his work both on and off the ball.

Ralph Hasenhuttl, Southampton manager, hasn't enjoyed his recent visits to these areas with his side scoring 14 goals in heavy defeats against City and Manchester United last year. But, a well-deserved point should give him cause to celebrate.

Broja Armando Broja was the player of the match with an average 8.36 Man City Manchester City Manchester City

Southampton Southampton Southampton Manchester City Avg Squad number 10 Player name Grealish Average rating 4.69 Squad number 31 Player name Ederson Average rating 4.38 Squad number 3 Player name Rben Dias Average rating 4.23 Squad number 6 Player name Ak Average rating 4.08 Squad number 17 Player name De Bruyne Average rating 4.04 Squad number 27 Player name Joo Cancelo Average rating 4.04 Squad number 47 Player name Foden Average rating 4.01 Squad number 2 Player name Walker Average rating 3.93 Squad number 8 Player name Gndogan Average rating 3.91 Squad number 20 Player name Bernardo Silva Average rating 3.91 Squad number 9 Player name Gabriel Jesus Average rating 3.88 Squad number 26 Player name Mahrez Average rating 3.82 Squad number 7 Player name Sterling Average rating 3.80 Squad number 25 Player name Fernandinho Average rating 3.75 Southampton Avg Squad number 18 Player name Broja Average rating 8.36 Squad number 9 Player name Armstrong Average rating 8.26 Squad number 15 Player name Perraud Average rating 8.24 Squad number 21 Player name Livramento Average rating 8.12 Squad number 2 Player name Walker-Peters Average rating 8.10 Squad number 6 Player name Oriol Romeu Average rating 8.07 Squad number 22 Player name Salisu Average rating 8.07 Squad number 35 Player name Bednarek Average rating 8.06 Squad number 24 Player name Elyounoussi Average rating 8.02 Squad number 10 Player name Adams Average rating 7.96 Squad number 5 Player name Stephens Average rating 7.86 Squad number 1 Player name McCarthy Average rating 7.82 Squad number 11 Player name Redmond Average rating 7.79 Squad number 8 Player name Ward-Prowse Average rating 7.47

Line-ups

Match Stats

Live Text Line-ups Man City Formation 4-3-3 31 Ederson 2 Walker 3 Rben Dias 6 Ak 27 Cancelo 8 Gndogan 25 Fernandinho 20 Bernardo Silva 9 Gabriel Jesus 7 Sterling 10 Grealish 31 Ederson

2 Walker

3 Rben Dias

6 Ak

27 Cancelo

8 Gndogan

25 Fernandinho Substituted for De Bruyne at 65' minutes

20 Bernardo Silva Substituted for Foden at 72' minutes

9 Gabriel Jesus Substituted for Mahrez at 67' minutes

7 Sterling

10 Grealish Substitutes 17 De Bruyne

21 Torres

26 Mahrez

33 Carson

47 Foden

79 Mbete

80 Palmer

90 Lavia

97 Wilson-Esbrand Southampton Formation 4-1-4-1 21 Livramento 5 Stephens 33.5 Bednarek 2 Walker-Peters 6. Romeu 24 Elyounoussi 8. Ward-Prowse 10. Adams 11. Redmond 9. Armstrong 1 McCarthy

21 Livramento Booked @ 84mins Substituted For Perraud @ 86' Minutes

5 Stephens Substituted for Salisu at 37' minutes

35 Bednarek

Booked 2 Walker-Peters at 52mins

6 Romeu

24 Elyounoussi

8 Ward-Prowse

Broja Substituted by 10 Adams at 68' Minutes

11 Redmond

9 Armstrong Substitutes 4 Silveira Neves Vojnovic

15 Perraud

18 Broja

19 Djenepo

22 Salisu

23 Tella

27 Diallo

43 Valery

44 Forster Referee Jonathan Moss Attendance 52,698 Match Stats live text Post update Match ends in Manchester City 0, Southampton 0. Full Time Second Half ends in Manchester City 0, Southampton 0. Post update Corner, Southampton. Jack Grealish conceded. Post update Foul by Nathan Ak, Manchester City Post update ArmandoBroja (Southampton), wins a free kick from the right wing. Post update VAR decision: Southampton 0-0 Manchester City. Manchester City, Post Update Phil Foden attempts a through ball but Raheem sterling is caught offside. Post-update: Attempt saved. The header of Phil Foden (Manchester City), from the centre box is saved in top left corner. Kevin De Bruyne assisted with a cross. Manchester City, Post-update Corner Mohammed Salisu resigned. Post-update: Attempt blocked. Raheem Sterling (Manchester City), right footed shot from left side box is blocked Manchester City, Post-update Corner Jan Bednarek has consented to the proposal. Post-update: Attempt blocked. Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City), left footed shot taken from outside the box is stopped. Riyad Mahrez assisted. Manchester City, Post-update Kevin De Bruyne tries a through-ball, but Jack Grealish gets caught offside. Update: Attempt blocked. Blocking of Armando Broja's right-footed shot from outside box Nathan Redmond assisted. Substitution Substitution, Southampton. Romain Perraud replaces Valentino Livramento. Post update Kevin De Bruyne, Manchester City, wins a free kick from the right wing. Post update Foul by Mohammed Salisu, Southampton Valentino Livramento (Southampton), is given the yellow card. Post update Raheem sterling (Manchester City), wins a free kick during the defensive half. Foul by Valentino Livamento (Southampton) after the update Page 1 of 5 Rewind Previous Navigate to Next Navigate To The Last Page Forward