Manchester City five without a win as Southampton hold firm

Manchester City's winless run stretched to five games as they were held 1-1 by Southampton at the Etihad Stadium.

Sergio Aguero and Vincent Kompany returned to the City side – the latter’s first league start under Pep Guardiola – but neither change had the desired affect.

The hosts dominated possession but gifted Southampton a goal just before the half hour mark. John Stones underhit a backpass and Nathan Redmond beat a static Vincent Kompany to the ball before rounding Claudio Bravo and finishing into an empty net.

Stones thought he’d made amends five minutes later. He volleyed home Kevin De Bruyne’s free-kick at the far post but after some confusion the goal was disallowed as Sergio Aguero, who had tried to head the ball before it reached Stones, was offside.

When City did equalise it came through half-time substitute Kelechi Iheanacho, who met Leroy Sane’s low cross after he had been put through by a glorious pass from Fernandinho.

David Silva and Ilkay Gundogan came closest to winning it for City but neither could beat Fraser Forster, while Charlie Austin wasted a good chance for Southampton when he shot straight at Claudio Bravo having been teed up by Sofiane Boufal.

City cranked up the pressure for the five minutes of stoppage time and spent much of it around Southampton’s penalty area, but a number of blocks and last-ditch tackles kept them at bay.

What’s gone wrong at City? Having opened the season so well, it’s now five games without a win for Pep Guardiola’s side. Today they were the dominant team but struggled to turn that into chances. Have sides found them out? Is it just that they’ve had a tough run of fixtures? It’s too soon to panic but one thing that is clear is that City won’t stroll to the title.

Virgil Van Dijk (Southampton). Despite being under immense pressure towards the end of the game, Southampton’s defence stood strong and that was down in no small part to Van Dijk. He was dominant in the air throughout the game and on the ground helped keep Aguero quiet, while in a game where a dodgy backpass was decisive he showed the value of hoofing it clear towards the end. If he keeps this up it’s hard to see him still being a Southampton player next season.

27’ – GOAL! MAN CITY 0-1 SOUTHAMPTON. Stones undercooks a backpass dreadfully and Redmond nips past a static Kompany to take the ball around Bravo and finish.

32’ – DISSALLOWED GOAL! Stones meets a free-kick at the back post and thinks he’s scored but eventually it’s ruled out as Aguero was offside.

55’ – GOAL! MANCHESTER CITY 1-1 SOUTHAMPTON. Sane squares for Iheanacho to tap home from close range.

69’ – SAVE! Gundogan’s curling effort from the edge of the box is parried away from danger by Forster.

75’ – SAVE! Boufal finds Austin in a lot of space right on the edge of the box but having taken a touch to settle himself he shoots straight at Bravo.

Manchester City: Bravo 6, Stones 5, Kompany 6, Kolarov 6, Fernandinho 7, Gundogan 7, Silva 6, De Bruyne 6, Sane 7, Sterling 6, Aguero 6. Subs: Iheanacho 7, Navas 5, Nolito 5.

Southampton: Forster 7, Martina 6, Fonte 6, Van Djik 7, McQuuen 6, Romeu 7, Davis 6, Clasie 6, Tadic 6, Redmond 7, Austin 5. Subs: Boufal 7, Hojbjerg 6, Ward-Prowse 6.

Guardiola in winless in his last five matches for the first time since 2009.

Manchester City have only kept one clean sheet in their last 12 Premier League games.

Southampton have 52 points in 2016, two more than City.

The result ended a run of six successive defeats at the Etihad for Saints.