SAINT NO STOPPING US NOW!

Wonder goal from Adams seals victory as Pep stars are kept out by Mccarthy

struggled to make the step up since his £10million move from Championship Birmingham a year ago, scored an incredible 16thminute effort.

But even his unlikely fairy-tale was arguably upstaged by Saints keeper Alex Mccarthy, who made a remarkable catalogue of saves to thwart the visitors’ forward line.

At times, it was like the Alamo as City were denied time after time.

It might also have been a very different story if Sergio

Aguero had been leading their front line because Guardiola’s men were wasteful.

But Southampton deserve huge credit because they never stopped running and working in what was a terrific encounter to prove that, even in these surreal terms, the Premier League can always spring a surprise.

The most fascinating thing about behind-closed-doors games is to be able to hear every cough, spit and splutter from the dugout. One TV company tried to paint some outtakes as an insight when it was only interesting because it was so basic, like “man on”. Strictly Sunday League stuff.

However, watching from just behind the dugout at St Mary’s, it was incredible to listen to Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl. His frantic instructions are normally drowned out by the crowd, but actually this manager has to be the loudest in the Premier League.

And it is no wonder Southampton have made such strides under the Austrian’s stewardship with the way he drives on his players.

His non-stop instructions and raw enthusiasm gives his team an incredible energy as they chased, harried and closed down City.

The former champions