WHAT A RAH -LIEF FOR PEP
Hit-man Sterling cashes in to give Guardiola welcome respite
THE SMILE was back on Pep Guardiola’s face at the end of a tough few days for Manchester City.
Raheem Sterling’s seventh goal of the campaign wrapped up a first league win in three for the visitors – and ensured they remain eight points behind leaders Liverpool, with a game in hand.
However, Guardiola admitted his troops, who were held by Man Utd and West Brom ahead of this trip, are still nowhere near their vintage best.
Nor close to matching Jurgen Klopp’s outfit – 7-0 winners at Crystal Palace – when it comes to finding the net.
The City chief said: “We just didn’t have the momentum of goals again – our momentum in front of goal is not good but we have to accept it.
“It’s a good result, very important and we climb a bit
It’s a good result and we climb a bit but we are still a long way behind Liverpool. There’s no doubt how good they are
but we are still a long way behind Liverpool. They have the momentum. There’s no doubt how good they are right now.”
The Spanish coach then went on to heap praise on his defence, especially John Stones, who was outstanding.
He added: “All four of my defenders were amazing. John is back – his presence and personality was amazing. Southampton were very impressive. It was uncomfortable for us.”
Liverpool’s lunchtime romp in southeast London meant both teams were desperate for victory to stay in touch with the champions.
But you would not have guessed that straight off. Only the Saints flew out of the blocks with the sense of urgency required.
To be fair, Ralph Hasenhuttl’s troops always tend to start fast.
But the fact it took City 14 minutes to even approach the hosts’s penalty area was a real
surprise. That was when they finally tested Alex McCarthy through Joao Cancelo’s stinging 25-yard drive.
Yet once the ignition was switched on, a breakthrough seemed inevitable – and duly arrived when Kevin De Bruyne crossed for Sterling (right) to coolly fire home first time from 12 yards.
Rather than move up another gear – a la Liverpool – and put the game to bed, City instead went into reverse.
Which was in part down to a superb Saints response, inspired by a resurgent Theo Walcott.
The on-loan Everton winger came close to his second goal in four days on 21 minutes but was denied by Ederson’s sharp stop.
He then carved out two glorious chances for strikers Danny Ings and Che Adams.
However, Ings, who went off with a hamstring injury before the break, h e ad ed hi s opportunity wide before Adams messed up his – failing to connect at all.
And from the resulting corner, Danish defender Jannik
Ve s t e r g a a r d c ompl et ed a hat-trick of squandered Saints sitters, contriving to put a free header four yards ds over from six out.
If relieved to be ahead at the break, Guardiola must have been hoping for a step up in the second period. It was slightly better but without anything to show for it. Ferran Torres, up front in the absence of Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus, f lashed inches wide before De Bruyne and Sterling combined beautifully, with the former clipping a perfect pass for Bernardo Silva. Yet,
having controll controlled it, Sil Silva inexplicably i li delayed shooting and then the chance was gone.
City also went close when McCarthy tipped over an Ilkay Gundogan piledriver.
It was not all one-way traffic, though – and but for Stones’s sensational block when Adams was set to tap in Walcott’s cross, the Saints would have earned a share of the spoils.
St Mary’s boss Hasenhuttl said: “We were excellent. It was an unbelievable effort that underlined why we were in the top four before kick-off.
“The level of the game was so high. It was awesome. The only thing missing was us taking one of our chances.”