Pep full of vim after special night of the Raz

PEP Guardiola could not control his emotions after Raheem Sterling’s stunning late winner continued Manchester City’s record run at plucky Southampton’s expense.

Saints looked set to become the first side in 100 days to deny swashbuckling City maximum points in the Premier League after Oriol Romeu cancelled out Kevin De Bruyne’s deflected free-kick.

But deep into stoppage time Sterling found space to bend home a stunning effort to secure a 2-1 victory – a club record 19th straight win in all competitions – and send the Etihad Stadium wild as Guardiola jumped for joy.

“Good night, yes,” a smiling Guardiola said, sporting a wet jumper from the dressing room celebrations.

“I think all the supporters create some special moments. Tonight in the last breath, in the last second, we enjoyed the situation, so you have to celebrate it. It was a good moment i n the last minute.

“What happened in the locker room with all the staff, all the people, how happy they were that’s why our job makes sense. To enjoy this kind of situations.”

The unbridled celebrations after Sterling’s stoppage-time winner included Benjamin Mendy hobbling down the touchline with his City teammates – just two months after rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.

Guardiola joked the “crazy” full-back’s deci- sion was a “disaster”, but he too struggled to control himself.

“I said I apologise, I couldn’t control it,” the City boss said after referee Paul Tierney had a word with him having encroached on the pitch.

“I was so happy, like all the fans, all the players.

“I ran behind Raz [Sterling] but I am not quick enough, but we were so, so happy.”