Manchester City vs Southampton. Premier League.
Etihad StadiumAttendance53,922.
Report and highlights as James Ward-Prowse's opener is cancelled out by City's second-half comeback
Saturday 2 November 2019 20:04, UK
Manchester City came from behind to keep the pressure on Premier League leaders Liverpool as Kyle Walker's 86th-minute strike secured a hard-fought 2-1 win over Southampton.
Ralph Hasenhuttl's side produced a valiant display a week on from their 9-0 thrashing at home to Leicester, and James Ward-Prowse gave the visitors a shock lead at the Etihad (16).
City toiled throughout the first half, but after Sergio Aguero eventually restored parity from Walker's cross (70), it was an unlikely source that broke Southampton's resolve as the full-back struck with four minutes of normal time remaining.
The result leaves second-placed City still six points off Liverpool after Sadio Mane's dramatic late winner against Aston Villa, while Southampton remain 18th and two points adrift of safety.
It was a peculiar afternoon in the Premier League with both City and Liverpool in action simultaneously for the first time since February 27 barring the final day of last season - and for large periods, both were behind.
Pep Guardiola, like Jurgen Klopp, will have been mightily relieved with the outcome and the qualities his side showed in the second period on Saturday, but this was largely a display riddled with complacency.
That said, Southampton - eight days on from that humiliation against the Foxes - were magnificent from the first whistle and were clinical with their only attack of the opening period.
Nathan Redmond was afforded too much space on the right to pick out Stuart Armstrong on the edge of the box, and after his shot was spilt by Ederson, Ward-Prowse was on hand to lift the ball instinctively over the Brazilian to silence the home crowd.
There was plenty of work for Guardiola to do at the break. His side had mustered 14 shots to Southampton's three in the opening 45 minutes, but none of those efforts from the hosts had been on target.
The closest City had come to an equaliser during a tepid first half fell to John Stones, a player who hasn't scored at club level in over two years, as the centre-back headed over Ilkay Gundogan's cross.
With Villa leading at home to Liverpool, there was greater urgency from the champions with Gabriel Jesus replacing the ineffectual David Silva. A mistake from Jack Stephens offered Aguero the chance to level but again he failed to test Alex McCarthy just after the hour-mark as he headed over from close range.
But with 20 minutes remaining, Southampton's resistance was finally broken as Walker found space on the right to drill in a cross that was directed through the legs of McCarthy by Aguero for his ninth Premier League goal of the season.
Remarkably, the Argentine had reached that figure from just his 10th shot on target in the league this term, and McCarthy was forced into action moments later as he tipped over Bernardo Silva's effort from Raheem Sterling's cut-back.
Southampton then very nearly gifted City the lead when McCarthy was guilty of collecting Jan Bednarek's backpass but Kevin De Bruyne curled the resulting indirect free-kick inches wide of the post.
But just when it seemed Southampton would hold on to a remarkable point, Angelino's cross was parried by McCarthy into the path of Walker, who readjusted his body to direct the ball over the line from close range.
Jesus might have put the game beyond doubt in stoppage time when McCarthy saved with his feet after the substitute had been put through by De Bruyne, but a third goal would have deeply flattered the hosts.
Manchester City head coach Pep Guardiola: "It's a long time since we won a game in the last few minutes like today. From the first minute, I thought we were incredible with the rhythm and knowing we had to give absolutely everything.
"They scored with their only shot on goal, and we created so much but it was almost impossible when a team sets out with 11 players to defend. We had to be patient and to keep going. There was spirit on the field, so that's why I'm delighted with the game we played today.
Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl: "We showed up today - it was fantastic what the team did. We didn't have a lot of possession, and it is not always nice to watch but when you see the amount my team invested today, just in terms of the work ethic, they deserved more.
"We were aware of everything they tried, and in the centre we were aggressive and committed. They equalised a little bit too early as 20 minutes is a long way, but I'm proud of my team's performance.
"We wanted to do better than we did on Tuesday [in the Carabao Cup defeat to Manchester City] and the most important thing is that we showed we can defend against such a team."
Walker both scored and assisted in a Premier League game for the first time in his career, while Aguero continued his lethal scoring record against Southampton with his eighth goal in 13 games against them, but it is hard to look beyond Vestergaard.
There was plenty of soul-searching after the 9-0 defeat to Leicester, a game in which the Denmark centre-back was hooked at half-time. But here, he stood up to the challenge, making more clearances (17) than any other player and winning all of his aerial duels.
Alan McInally told Soccer Saturday:
"Guardiola gets animated, buy boy was he a cat on a hot tin roof today, including falling out with Hasenhuttl and his backroom staff about keeping the ball.
"It was a brilliant Saturday, as they 100 per cent knew exactly what was going on at Villa Park and they knew exactly what it meant. City were really up against it in trying to break down a 10-man defence.
"City missed that little magician David Silva who went off with what looked like a knock. It was the Alamo in the second half and eventually the wall started to creak. There was a huge sigh of relief from the whole stadium."
The Champions League returns next week as Manchester City travel to face Atalanta on Wednesday before they visit Liverpool on Sunday, live on Sky Sports (kick-off is at 4.30pm).
Southampton return to St Mary's on Saturday as they host Everton (kick-off 3pm) in the Premier League.
