SOU vs MCI
Match Centre
SOU vs MCI As It Happened
Key moments so far
- Ward-Prowse (og) and Agüero strike late in first half for City
- Højbjerg fired Saints level after David Silva's opener at St Mary's
- Ward-Prowse penalty appeal turned down just before he put through his own net
- Ralph Hasenhüttl made six changes, including a debut for 18-year-old defender Kayne Ramsay
FULL TIME: Southampton 1-3 Manchester City
It's all over at St Mary's, where it proved a decisive end to the first period. Having been on level terms on the brink of half time, Saints went in at the break 3-1 down and were unable to recover. The hosts had Alex McCarthy to thank for preventing further City goals in the second half, before goalscorer Pierre-Emile Højbjerg was shown a straight red card for bringing down Fernandinho late on.
Three added minutes...
Long heads over from a Ward-Prowse free-kick, as the fourth official emerges to display three extra minutes at St Mary's.
Manchester City substitution: Kyle Walker replaces Fernando Luiz Rosa
Final change for City. Guardiola is taking no chances with the limping Fernandinho, who is feeling the effects of that Højbjerg challenge. Danilo has gone into midfield.
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Red Card for Pierre-Emile Højbjerg (Southampton)
It's a straight red card for the Saints skipper. He went right through Fernandinho, and can't have too many complaints.
Manchester City substitution: Leroy Sané replaces Riyad Mahrez
Guardiola makes his second change, as Sané enters the fray to play down the left. Sterling has switched to the right flank.
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McCarthy makes another save...
City have missed some great chances to extend the lead. Jesus slides the ball to his right to Mahrez, who goes eye to eye with McCarthy, but again the Saints keeper makes himself big and saves with his body. Saints are still just about in this game...
Yellow Card for Danilo Luiz da Silva (Manchester City)
Another yellow card - this time for City's Brazilian right-back Danilo.
Manchester City substitution: Gabriel Fernando de Jesus replaces Sergio Agüero
That's Agüero's last act, as Jesus jogs on in his place.
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Yellow Card for Jan Bednarek (Southampton)
Bednarek pulls back Agüero to halt a City counter-attack.
Yellow Card for Vincent Kompany (Manchester City)
The City skipper goes into the book for a foul on Elyounoussi.
2️⃣0️⃣ minutes to go...
Can we set up a grandstand finish? There's plenty of time!
Southampton substitution: Shane Long replaces Charlie Austin
It's Hasenhüttl's final change, as Long takes the place of Austin in attack.
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Heroic block from Ward-Prowse 💪
Saints are exposed as Sterling races into the box, pulling a low ball across goal for Agüero to slide in, but Ward-Prowse gets across to prevent a certain goal.
Agüero hits the woodwork
City have dominated since the break. Agüero threatens to score his second, drilling a left-footed shot against the angle of post and bar from the edge of the box.
Southampton substitution: Yan Valery replaces Oriol Romeu
It looks like a switch to a back three for Saints, with Valery and Targett now operating as wing-backs.
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Yellow Card for Charlie Austin (Southampton)
Austin, retreating into his own half, brings down Fernandinho to earn a caution.
McCarthy thwarts Sterling
Sterling races into the box, trading passes with David Silva, but cannot beat McCarthy. Sterling's shot actually cannoned into the forehead of his England teammate - unorthodox, but effective.
Laporte heads wide
First sight of goal for City since the interval. Laporte rises highest to meet David Silva's free-kick, but his header is well off target.
Ederson gets down sharply
Højbjerg tries his luck from 25 yards, but Ederson gets down to his right to make a fairly routine save. It's game on if Saints can score next...
Back under way...
Redmond wastes no time in getting involved as he takes the first touch of the second half from the kick-off.
Southampton substitution: Nathan Redmond replaces Mario Lemina
It's a half-time change for Ralph Hasenhüttl...
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Will Chaz's moment come? 🤞
With 39% of the vote, you voted Charlie Austin your most likely Saints goalscorer this afternoon. He's had a couple of chances - will it prove third time lucky for the striker?
HALF TIME: Southampton 1-3 Manchester City
What a harsh reflection. After an explosive start in which they took a deserved lead, Man City lost a bit of their usual rhythm and Saints were getting on top of them. Pierre-Emile Højbjerg's equaliser had been coming, before James Ward-Prowse was nudged over in the box - no penalty given. Up the other end went City, fortuitously going back in front through an own goal, before adding a third.
Agüero makes it three...
What a disastrous end to the first half. Saints were on the front foot and pushing for a half-time lead, but now find themselves with a mountain to climb, as Agüero heads home Zinchenko's cross from six yards.
GOAL
Sergio Agüero (+2’) | 1 – 3
So cruel...
No sooner has Ward-Prowse been denied a spot-kick, he's now put through his own net. Sterling's low cross cannons off the midfielder, who can do nothing about it as the ball flies in past McCarthy at his near post. Saints do not deserve that.
OWN GOAL
James Ward-Prowse (45’) | 1 – 2
No penalty ❌
Ward-Prowse takes a long diagonal pass in his stride with a brilliant first touch to glide past Zinchenko, who leans into the Saints man in the box. Ward-Prowse goes down - nothing given. The home fans fume...
PIEEEERRRREEEEE!!!
That's the equaliser Saints have been pushing for! Højbjerg epitomises the hosts' approach by hassling Zinchenko into a mistake, stealing possession and driving into the box before firing an explosive shot past Ederson! Get in!
GOOOAL!!!
Pierre-Emile Højbjerg (37’) | 1 – 1
Austin goes close!
This is a good spell for Saints. Ward-Prowse whips in a corner from the left that's met by a glancing header at the near post from Austin, forcing a fine reaction save from Ederson. Keep pushing, boys!
Yellow Card for Sergio Agüero (Manchester City)
Agüero trips Targett and becomes the first player to enter the book.
So casual from Ederson 😳
That was high risk. Ederson receives the ball from Danilo, virtually on his own goal-line, with Højbjerg charging towards him. Cool as you like, the Brazilian turns away and starts another attack. Any touch from Højbjerg would've levelled the scores.
Another superb McCarthy stop 👏
That's a second stunning close-range save from the Saints keeper, as Sterling rolls the ball across goal for Agüero, who should score, but McCarthy dives at his feet and makes another odds-defying stop.
Mahrez goes close
You have to say, that would've been some goal. City show ridiculous composure to play their way out of their own six-yard box. All of a sudden, Fernandinho sprays the ball out to Mahrez and the winger is away, surging towards the edge of the box, where his curling shot is just a whisker wide of the target, Defence to attack in seconds.
Crucial interception from Stephens...
City were nearly in again, as David Silva tries to thread the ball through for Agüero, but Stephens is there, sliding in to cut out the pass.
Silva doesn't miss this time...
The two Silvas combine to deadly effect. David, denied by McCarthy in the first five minutes, makes no mistake from Bernardo's cutback and slots home a simple opener.
GOAL
David Silva (10’) | 0 – 1
Golden chance for Austin 😩
That was a real opportunity for Saints to make the breakthrough. Højbjerg dispossesses Agüero and drives forward, finding Elyounoussi, whose clever first-time pass releases Austin, but the striker's touch is heavy and runs through to Ederson. He was clean through on goal.
What a save by McCarthy! 😱
City have looked threatening early on, but there's no way through as Sterling sets up David Silva, who looks certain to score from six yards until McCarthy flings himself to his left and makes a brilliant save!
Early corner for City...
City attack with typical speed, as Mahrez runs at Targett and wins a corner off the Saints left-back, which is cleared to safety by the home team.
City get the game up and running!
We're under way at St Mary's, as the Premier League champions get the action started...
14.16The teams are in the tunnel! ⏳
We're just 5️⃣ minutes away from kick-off here at St Mary's, where the atmosphere is building nicely...
14.10Happy Birthday, Franny!
We're wishing a Happy Birthday to Saints legend Franny Benali, who turns 5️⃣0️⃣ today! What a present three points would be... 👀
13.58The players are in 👊
Our cameras were on hand to capture the players arriving at St Mary's. There's less than 3️⃣0️⃣ minutes to go until kick-off! ⏳
13.486️⃣ changes | 1️⃣ debut
It's a senior debut for Kayne Ramsay! 👏 The 18-year-old defender replaces fellow youngster Yan Valery, while Jack Stephens, James Ward-Prowse, Pierre-Emile Højbjerg, Mohamed Elyounoussi and Charlie Austin also return to the side.
13.23Man City team confirmed
Saints team confirmed 😇
Starting XI: McCarthy, Ramsay, Stephens, Bednarek, Targett, Ward-Prowse, Højbjerg, Romeu, Lemina, Elyounoussi, Austin.
What's inside the programme? 👀
It's the last edition of SAINTS in 2018! Stuart Armstrong is our cover star and subject of the big feature interview - find out what else you'll find inside the matchday programme here.
12.27Lambert or Mané? 🤔
Thanks for voting in our poll, Saints fans! We asked you who scored a hat-trick the last time we beat City... check out the flashback to find out ☝️ well done if you guessed correctly!
12.14Where will today's game be won and lost? 🧐
Bleacher Report's Sam Tighe highlights three key areas Saints must exploit if they are to inflict further punishment on the Premier League champions, in the latest edition of Tactical Watch.
12.01Get clued up with all the facts and stats 🤓
For an extensive rundown of everything you need to know ahead of today's game, check out our Match Pack! Includes team news, the view of both managers and a brief history of Saints vs Man City through the ages...
11.5611.21we need a good plan against the ball and to be prepared to run a lot without the ball. when we have the chance, be sharp and uncompromising, and try to score them. it won't be easy, but it's possible.
ralph hasenhüttlsouthampton manager
🎥 Hasenhüttl on City test
We caught up with Ralph Hasenhüttl on Friday, as the Saints boss quickly switched his focus from West Ham to Man City, and the challenge that awaits facing Pep Guardiola's team.
11.13For the final time in 2018... it's MATCHDAY!
The hectic festive schedule continues at St Mary's as Saints take to the field for the third time in nine days, entertaining Premier League champions Manchester City. Ralph Hasenhüttl's men are determined to bounce back after their resurgence was halted by West Ham on Thursday night, while City arrive on the south coast strangely out of form. Stay with us for all the build-up and live commentary!
11.11SOU vs MCI Line Ups
Southampton
| 1 |
Alex McCarthy (GK)
|
|---|---|
| 33 |
Matt Targett
|
| 35 |
Jan Bednarek
|
| 66 |
Kayne Ramsay
|
| 5 |
Jack Stephens
|
| 18 |
Mario Lemina
Nathan Redmond (45′)
|
| 16 |
James Ward-Prowse
|
| 14 |
Oriol Romeu
Yan Valery (59′)
|
| 11 |
Mohamed Elyounoussi
|
| 23 |
Pierre-Emile Højbjerg (C)
|
| 10 |
Charlie Austin
Shane Long (68′)
|
Substitutes
| 22 |
Nathan Redmond |
|---|---|
| 3 |
Maya Yoshida |
| 43 |
Yan Valery |
| 9 |
Danny Ings |
| 28 |
Angus Gunn |
| 7 |
Shane Long |
| 17 |
Stuart Armstrong |
Manchester City
| 31 |
Ederson (GK)
|
|---|---|
| 35 |
Oleksandr Zinchenko
|
| 3 |
Danilo
|
| 14 |
Aymeric Laporte
|
| 4 |
Vincent Kompany (C)
|
| 25 |
Fernandinho
Kyle Walker (86′)
|
| 20 |
Bernardo Silva
|
| 21 |
David Silva
|
| 10 |
Sergio Agüero
Gabriel Jesus (73′)
|
| 26 |
Riyad Mahrez
Leroy Sané (84′)
|
| 7 |
Raheem Sterling
|
Substitutes
| 2 |
Kyle Walker |
|---|---|
| 19 |
Leroy Sané |
| 30 |
Nicolás Otamendi |
| 47 |
Phil Foden |
| 49 |
Arijanet Muric |
| 33 |
Gabriel Jesus |
| 5 |
John Stones |
SOU vs MCI Match Stats
Head to Head Stats
-
Possession (%)2377
-
Shots514
-
Shots on target46
-
Corners38
-
Passes Complete157698
