RAHEEM STERLING scored the goal which gave Manchester City their first Premier League away win since Halloween.
Most welcome on a day when they took to the field without a recognised striker.
Raheem Sterling scored the only goal as Man City beat high-flying SouthamptonCredit: Getty – Pool
Yet there was little about either team that looked familiar as City were lucky to hang on and Southampton were uncharacteristically sloppy.
This result will hardly send shudders through football and while boss Pep Guardiola can point to injuries to his forwards, the rest of his team is struggling to take up the slack.
The fact City keeper Ederson was booked for time wasting with nine minutes to go sums it up.
As responses go to the earlier seven goal pummelling dished out by Liverpool at Crystal Palace it was pretty feeble whatever the circumstances.
The Premier League champions have fitness issues too but chose to go on the rampage instead.
City had their chances to make it far more comfortable too with Bernardo Silva and sub Riyad Mahrez missing sitters.
Guardiola’s declaration that he won’t be buying a striker come January could end up costing City much more than they save in the short term.
With Sergio Aguero’s admission that his dodgy knee is still wildly unpredictable there are going to be more weeks like this when City have to turn to those still standing to keep the goals flowing as is their way.
Raheem Sterling opened the scoring in the 16th minute of the match Credit: Getty Images – Getty
Instead they had resurgent defender John Stones to thank for keeping Southampton at bay when the home side weren’t shooting themselves in the foot.
Sterling’s first half goal is hugely valuable nonetheless. It stops City slipping 11 points behind Liverpool at the top of the table but Guardiola needs more out of his players.
They had already been let off when Moussa Djenepo’s early shot was blocked by Kyle Walker. And they were aware of Southampton’s energy as they swarmed all over the visitors from the off.
Sometimes the best way to get around an obstacle is to go over it and that’s precisely how City grabbed the lead in the 16th minute.
A massive punt upfield from keeper Ederson was taken on by Bernardo Silva and Kevin de Bruyne in partnership.
The latter was then able to cut the back into the middle of the goal area from the right where Sterling waited to curl home a shot from around 15 yards- a classy finishing touch to route one stuff.
But after the glow of celebration faded after a few seconds, taking the lead failed to fire City to go on to greater things.
Theo Walcott was a constant nuisance on the right flank and the overall buoyancy of the home team made City’s lead look wobbly throughout.
Kevin De Bruyne in action during the second half of the clashCredit: EPA
Injury to striker Danny Ings, who had to come off four minutes before half-time, did Southampton no favours and for a fraction more efficiency in finishing it would have been even stevens if not more by the break.
Jannik Vesteragaard put a header over the bar from five yards and Che Adams should have got more gumption when he had a chance with his bonce too.
City were also fortunate that John Stones seems to be continuing his resurgence and the elegant centre half looked much improved with well-timed tackles and playing out from the back with confidence as England assistant manager Steve Holland sat in the stands talent scouting.
Stones emerged as the best on the day after he also arrived on the scene to hook a dangerous cross from Walcott from underneath his crossbar.
He has not played for England in more than a year but is starting to be noticed again for all the right reasons.
In the second half Saints were just as wasteful. Sub Nathan Redmond got his feet tangled up when in the clear inside the box in the 61st minute and fell over rather than get a shot away.
It was a clear view on goal in yards of space and while Southampton will complain they were denied a penalty when Sterling handled trying to make a defensive clearing, it should not have come down to whinging.
Ex-Arsenal star Theo Walcott in action for Southampton Credit: Getty Images – Getty
Adams missed two more headers at goal of varying degrees of difficulty as the slog wore on and City held firm.
Silva was also guilty of a horrendous miss when he had done the hard work in the box with the ball but as he went to round McCarthy caught his studs in the ground and his limp shot dribbled lamely into the keeper’s gloves.
Following Wednesday’s 1-1 draw against ten man Arsenal, Southamtpon have now taken only one point from games when they should have had four at least and may now have to face Christmas without crocked Ings.
Man City’s Ilkay Gundogan skips past James Ward-ProwseCredit: EPA
Pep Guardiola insists Man City will not panic buy a striker in transfer market despite worrying goal drought
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
