Manchester City 0-0 Southampton: Saints battle to deserved point

Southampton drew for the fourth time out of five games in the early stages of this 2021-22 Premier League campaign, but they could have taken all three points from Manchester City on Saturday afternoon.

Saints put on a brave defensive display, limiting Pep Guardiola’s City to just one shot on target all game - and that came in the 90th minute.

Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side also looked strong going forward and though Southampton didn’t create any guilt-edged chances, they could arguably be the more disappointed of the two teams after 90 minutes.

The visitors were awarded a penalty at around 60 minutes after Kyle Walker felled Adam Armstrong in the City penalty area. Walker was also originally sent off by referee Jon moss.

However, after going to VAR, Moss watched the footage back and somehow went against his decision despite Walker clearly fouling Armstrong as he originally called. There shouldn’t have been a red card involved, but, inexplicably, there was also no penalty.

Despite that setback, Saints continued to plug away at last season’s champions and looked the more dangerous side until City started turning the screw in the last 10 minutes.

City thought they had stolen all three points on 90 minutes. Phil Foden’s header from a Kevin De Bruyne cross was expertly saved by Alex McCarthy, but Raheem Sterling was there to bundle the ball home for a would-be late winner.

That goal was rightly ruled offside by VAR and despite Moss allowing the game to run to seven minutes of injury time - two minutes over the five allotted - City were unable to break down Southampton’s resolute backline.

Saints remain winless in the Premier League so far, but this is a big point to take home to Hampshire.

Manchester City (4-3-3): Ederson; Walker, Dias, Ake, Cancelo; Gundogan, Fernandinho (De Bruyne 65’), Bernardo Silva (Foden 72’); Gabriel Jesus (Mahrez 67’), Sterling, Grealish

Unused subs: Carson, Torres, Mbete, Palmer, Lavia, Wilson-Esbrand

Goals: None

Bookings: None

Southampton (4-4-2): McCarthy; Livramento (Perraud 86’), Stephens (Salisu 37’), Bednarek, Walker-Peters; Elyounoussi, Ward-Prowse, Romeu, Redmond; Adams (Broja 68’), A. Armstrong

Unused subs: Forster, Lyanco, Djenepo, Tella, Diallo, Valery

Goals: None

Bookings: Walker-Peters, Livramento