THREE AND EASY BLUES Holders cruise through in pursuit of hat-trick and pile on the agony for suffering Saints

MANCHESTER CITY remain on course for a third straight triumph in the Cup after a routine win over Southampton.

City have not lost an EFL Cup tie now for 1,098 days and have their sights set firmly on lifting the trophy for a fifth time in seven years in March.

There was further misery for Saints, on the back of their 9-0 mauling to Leicester, with Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side having to return to the Etihad Stadium on Saturday for what will most likely be another chastening defeat.

Sergio Aguero scored twice as City booked their quarter-final place, their last defeat in the competition coming three years and three days ago at local rivals Manchester United.

Pep Guardiola handed a debut to 18-year-old midfielder Tommy Doyle, grandson of City legends Mike Doyle and Glyn Pardoe – and the teenager justified his manager’s faith with a tenacious and assured display.

Only five Saints players survived the cull following their humiliating drubbing at home to the Foxes – Oriol Romeu, James Ward-prowse, Pierreemile Hojbjerg, Jan Bednarek and Yan Valery handed the chance to atone.

City fans wasted no time in taunting their opposite numbers with chants of “We want 10” moments after kick-off, imploring their side to subject the visitors to another crushing defeat.

Doyle drew applause from the home fans in the 15th minute, with a smart turn to evade two opponents, before being upended by Romeu as he dispatched the ball to Angelino.

As expected, City were in control from the start, pinging the ball around with an arrogant authority, and it was no surprise when they took the lead after 20 minutes.

Doyle played a short corner to Phil Foden, who in turn found Bernardo Silva. His cross was met by Nicolas Otamendi, who got between Romeu and Bednarek, to head them in front with his second goal of the season.

Aguero, restored to the starting lineup after coming off the bench against Villa, went close to doubling City’s lead, sending a free-kick – won by Doyle – just wide of the Saints goal.

But moments later Aguero made no mistake, when finding himself unmarked, he steered the ball home from close range.

And he claimed his second in the 56th minute, poking the ball in from a deflected Riyad Mahrez effort.

Saints scored 15 minutes from time, through Jack Stephens, to give the visiting fans something to cheer, as their team salvaged some pride after Friday’s horror against

CHRIS DAGNALL’S double fired Yeovil into the FA Cup first round proper at the second attempt. The original tie, on October 19, was abandoned following racist abuse from Town supporters. This time it went without a hitch, especially for Yeovil and boss Darren Sarll (below) who booked a home tie against Hartlepool. Dagnall struck in each half and Luke Wilkinson scored in between for a comfortable win against a side two divisions below them in the Isthmian League Premier Division. Yeovil created the early pressure and James Tilley’s cross found Charlie Lee at the back post but nobody could get a touch as he headed across goal. Tilley fired over after a driving run from Albi Skendi but, if the visitors thought this was going to be easy, they were in for a rude awakening. Jorge Jesse Sambu forced a superb save from Stuart Nelson, who tipped over his goalbound header. Albi was a constant threat to the Haringey defence and he went on another probing run before firing a pass into the box but it was just out of reach of striker Dagnall. Lawson D’ath tried his luck for Town from the edge of the area with a curled effort before Lee’s 30-yard drive brought a save out of Valery Douglas Pajetat, the Haringey keeper who was allegedly spat at and struck by a missile thrown from the crowd in the first tie. The pressure told just before the half-hour when Dagnall was on hand to force the ball over the line and bring the first round proper a little closer for the side second in the National League. And Yeovil could have doubled their lead three minutes later when Lee met Tilley’s corner, only to see his header cleared off the line. Haringey almost drew level five minutes into the second half but Dimitris Froxylias wasted a great chance. Wilkinson later grabbed Yeovil’s second when he headed home from a corner. And shortly afterwards, Dagnall pounced on an error from Pajetat for his second, Yeovil’s third, and a passage to the big time.

FLYING Nicolas Otamendi heads home the first for City on an easy night at the Etihad