Pep Guardiola’s furious reaction speaks volumes as Man City survive Southampton scare

On another day Erling Haaland would have walked away with the match ball.

Instead, he had to settle for the solitary fifth minute goal that proved the match-winner on a day of frustration for Pep Guardiola. Haaland wasn’t his usual clinical self and City weren’t at the races either as the expected avalanche of goals failed to arrived after such an early breakthrough.

But that’s the new City in the Premier League this season. The days of cricket-score batterings have, for now at least, disappeared and 1-0 is the new 5-0 for Guardiola’s team.

Their last four League wins have only been by one goal with City struggling to run riot , even against teams at the bottom of the pile. So while City took the points to go top – for 24 hours at least – this was, perhaps, a moral victory of sorts for Russell Martin and his gallant Saints side.

And the sight of every City player defending a 94th minute Southampton corner as Martin’s side dreamed of a spectacular finish spoke of a Guardiola team who have run out of bullets, domestically at least. Without a Premier League win all season you’d have imagined Southampton’s morale would have been on the floor.

The Saints arrived at The Etihad on the back of three straight defeats, the latest to a deflating last-gasp winner at home to Leicester. Yet they showed no hangover and even after Haaland’s early opener their confidence, composure and belief belied their spirit-sapping position propping up the table with a solitary point.

Instead of shrinking after Haaland struck his eleventh goal in nine League games though, Martin’s men responded with a defiant show of guts and resilience to see out the half without further damage. But they didn’t just defend and while they were forced to soak up pressure on the transition they looked to hit City on the break whenever they could.

Prompted by the experience and cool head of Adam Lallana, big characters in defence and a strong mindset that’s worthy of mention. Although City pushed and probed from the flanks with Savinho and Nunes constantly trying to create an opening, Southampton kept their shape and discipline.

So much so that Aaron Ramsdale hardly had a shot to save in anger as City looked for the killer second goal. As half-time approached Kovacic fired a drive straight at Ramsdale and moments later Saints almost drew level.

With City pressing high, Flynn Downes picked out Jack Stephens who cleverly flicked the ball into the path of Cameron Archer. The striker immediately raced towards goal but although his rising shot beat Ederson it crashed against the bar leaving Guardiola relieved – but hopping mad on the touchline.

After harsh half-time words from Guardiola City’s second half response was predictably venomous. Foden set the tone within seconds of the restart, whipping a low drive fractionally wide to signal an onslaught that kept Saints on high alert.

Soon after, Gvardiol headed a Foden ball dangerously across the box with the outstanding Bednarak clearing the danger. From the corner Haaland saw his header cleared off line by Harwood-Bellis, another defensive rock.

Saints defenders dealt well with Haaland’s frightening physicality, but the Norwegian missed two mid-half chances you’d normally back him to score. First, Savinho’s teasing ball to the far post looked a nailed on goal, but Haaland somehow slipped the ball wide.

Not long after the industrious Savinho stood up cross to the back post but Haaland again got his angles wrong and missed the target. The struggle for a two-goal cushion meant the stadium fell flat – and Saints were encouraged forcing Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias into vital defending to stop an equaliser.

Not the day City and their fans expected, but maybe a platform for Saints to find that first win.