Southampton 1, Manchester City 0
Southampton won only their fifth Premier League game at home this season as Che Adams scored his first goal for the club to condemn the Blues to a ninth defeat of the season.
Embed from Getty ImagesLooking every bit the meaningless end of season game, the game didn’t go to plan for City against a counter attacking Southampton side who held on the lead as soon as they took it.
Adams capitalised on a mistake by Oleksandr Zinchenko in midfield to lob Ederson who was off his line, from 40 yards out, after just 16 minutes.
Southampton weathered wave after wave of attacks as City chased an equaliser in vain with off-form Gabriel Jesus – who now hasn’t scored in nine games since netting against Real Madrid in February – guilty of some poor misses.
Fernandinho hit the woodwork and Alex McCarthy pulled off a string of saves – helped by Jack Stephens who was a colossus in the Saints defence as they pulled off a rearguard action as they counted their blessings against a City side that was lacking consistency and attacking verve.
City boss Pep Guardiola made 6 changes from the side that thrashed Liverpool with Kyle Walker, Benjamin Mendy, Rodri, Ilkay Gundogan, Phil Foden, and Kevin De Bruyne rested or injured as the games came thick and fast.
They were replaced by Joao Cancelo, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Bernardo Silva, David Silva, Fernandinho, and Riyad Mahrez.
Fernandinho returned from suspension to start in midfield as Eric Garcia boosted his burgeoning reputation by keeping fit again John Stones out of the side to again partner Aymeric Laporte.
David Silva, celebrating ten years at Manchester City this week, joined the Brazilian and sported the captain’s armband.
The Saints got just the start they wanted, though, when City made the kind of error that has cost them all too often this season.
Che Adams, notched his first goal for the Saints in style as he lobbed Ederson from 40 yards to score his first Premier League goal in his 25th appearance after Zinchenko gave away the ball on the half way line.
City were stunned but Alex McCarthy was soon in action, making saves from Raheem Sterling, David Silva, and Mahrez, and was fortunate to see Fernandinho’s shot come off the inside of the post.
It wasn’t all backs to the wall for the home side though.
Danny Ings was put through by Kyle Walker-Peters’ cross but had to stretch and blazed the cross over as City remained sloppy throughout the first half and Gabriel Jesus remained out of form, blazing over with the goal at his mercy when a powerful cross came in from Cancelo.
McCarthy saved shots by Laporte and David Silva as well as a Jesus header after the break as City pressed the home side hard.
Jack Stephens blocked a Jesus scissor kick before Guardiola decided to make a change and brought on Foden and De Bruyne for Sterling and Mahrez.
But with spaces tight neither player could make the desired impact despite City’s generally good play on the day and there were precious few additional attacking options on the bench.
Bernardo Silva’s goalbound effort was blocked while Jesus could only head a chance straight to McCarthy.
Adams had sight of a second chance for the Saints but Ederson was quick off his line to clear the loose ball as City almost paid for a rare poor backpass by Garcia.
And Ederson was on his toes when a ball into Danny Ings bobbled up off him to create space for Stuart Armstrong’s shot.
The City crosses were raining in on the Southampton penalty area – but they were being cleared by a succession of Southampton players – prominently Jack Stephens – as City failed to break down the home side
Armstrong almost put through his own goal with everyone back for Southampton and City earned a last minute free kick but De Bruyne could only hit against the wall as City went down to a third successive away defeat in the Premier League.
GOALS – Southampton 1, Manchester City 0
Southampton 1, Man City 0: 16. Che Adams lobbed Ederson from 40 yards to score his first goal in his 25th appearance for Southampton.
MATCH STATS – Southampton 1, Manchester City 0
Southampton: McCarthy, Walker-Peters, Stephens, Bednarek, Bertrand, Armstrong (Smallbone 90+7), Ward-Prowse, Romeu, Redmond, Ings, Adams (Long 70)
Southampton Subs not used: Gunn, Djenepo, Obafemi, Voins, Danso, Ferry, Jankewitz
Goal: Adams 16
Booked: Romeu 45 (foul on David Silva)
Man City: Ederson, Cancelo, Garcia, Laporte, Zinchenko, Bernardo Silva, Fernandinho, David Silva, Mahrez (De Bruyne 59), Sterling (Foden 59), Gabriel Jesus
Man City Subs not used: Bravo, Stones, Gundogan, Rodri, Otamendi, Doyle, Harwood-Bellis
Booked: Fernandinho 57 (foul on Nathan Redmond); Jesus 86 (dissent)
Referee: Andre Marriner