ANGER MANAGER

Late relief for City but there is no doubt now that Guardiola hates playing Southampton

THERE is something about Southampton t hat rattles Pep Guardiola’ s cage and leaves City biting their fingernails.

Even in their record- breaking 100-point title season, City needed injury- time winners home and away.

That Southampton stretched City again yesterday was even more surprising. They were thrashed by a record 9-0 scoreline in their previous Premier League game and even the most optimistic travelling fan would have settled for conceding only five. Instead they took the lead after 13 minutes when James Ward-Prowse capitalised on a blunder by keeper Ederson, then defended heroically until Sergio Aguero levelled with his side’s first shot on target after 70 minutes.

For Kyle Walker (below) to pop up and grab the winner with four minutes left felt harsh on the visitors.

Southampton’s warriors had driven Guardiola to the edge. He hollered at his own players, he hollered at Ralph Hasenhuttl because hi s staff had delayed City taking a throw. More than once, the City boss took on ballboy duties himself to speed up play.

‘I think we have seen him be nicer,’ said Hasenhuttl. ‘He was a little bit nervous because he could lose this game. When he feels he didn’t have that many solutions, it gives me the feeling that we did a lot of things right.’ The Etihad crowd whipped themselves into a frenzy as City found themselves in a rare spot of adversity.

‘Our winning goal wasn’t as late as two seasons ago but the feeling was similar,’ said Guardiola.

‘ I knew the Southampton players would have pride. They suffered against Leicester, they are human beings and I knew they would not want anything like that to happen again. They wanted to win the duels, defend t heir goal by being aggressive. We knew it. It was not easy and we did it.’

It might have been easier had

Aguero converted a cross by Angelino in the opening minute. Then Nathan Redmond made progress down the right before cutting the ball back for Stuart Armstrong on the edge of the box. His shot was decently struck but still should have been a regulation gather for Ederson, who stooped down and let the ball squeeze out. Ward- Prowse was on the spot to prod home. Southampton put their bodies on the line to defend their lead. Oriol

Romeu threw himself in the way of a drive from Ilkay Gundogan, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg thwarted Bernardo Silva then blocked a cross with his trailing arm, Yan Valery matched Raheem Sterling for pace and aggression every step of the way.

Saints reached half-time in front — the first time that had happened this season. Guardiola responded by throwing on a second striker, Gabriel Jesus, for David Silva, who picked up a hamstring injury.

City were restricted to heaving in crosses against Southampton’s back five. ‘There was no space in t he penalty area, my friend,’ explained Guardiola to post-match inquisitors about his tactics.

City’s possession eventually translated into chances.

Ague rob eat the turf after heading over again. But when Walker’s cross arrived with 20 minutes left, his crisp first-time finish sped past Alex McCarthy for his 13th goal of the season.

The atmosphere ramped up further. City were furious at what they perceived as Southampton delaying tactics, leading Guardiola to lecture his fellow manager. There were boos as Valery took his time to limp off.

City took risks in searching for a winner: Sterling burst past three and pulled back for Bernardo whose hit was brilliantly tipped over by McCarthy. Kevin De Bruyne fired wide from a free-kick after McCarthy had picked up a back-pass. The home side forced three consecutive corners and then finally hit the winner.

It was all about the full-backs. Angelino’s cross from the left arced away from McCarthy and though he got fingertips to it at full stretch, Walker was steaming in beyond the far post and finished with glee.

Jesus was denied by McCarthy when he was clean through to make it 3-1 but City were just grateful for the three points, particularly given Liverpool’s late winner at Villa.

‘We had to be patient, second ball, crosses. We needed more people in the box and in the second half Gabriel did that,’ said Guardiola.

He has coached in some of the biggest club games in the world but nothing gets him going quite like Southampton.