However, this chance was squandered as his tame lofted shot was stopped by opposing ‘keeper Willy Caballero.
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In a worrying sign for City, though, Aguero limped off with an apparent ankle injury an hour in, although the team did get a boost when David Silva came off the bench after a nine-game injury layoff. This match should be a City win but I don’t think it will be a big win. “We had won just one point from the last six in the Premier League so it was very important to win here against a hard team that was unbeaten away”. I never have any problem about my work, so it doesn’t matter what they say. With a 0-0 draw at Aston Villa earlier this month, City have actually gone three games without a win but Pellegrini is not overly concerned about form yet.
Pellegrini smiled: “Maybe now it’s not a crisis”.
Aguero is expected to return to the starting 11, but even if he plays from the first minute, it is unlikely for him to play the entire match.
Caballero will take over against Southampton in the Premier League on Saturday and the Argentinian is also likely to play against Hull and Stoke in the next week. You see Liverpool come here and beat us but Crystal Palace went to Liverpool and beat them, and after that Sunderland beat Crystal Palace.
Palace, who had slipped back to 10th after a good start to the season, responded with two goals from Yannick Bolasie, two from James McArthur and one from Wilfried Zaha to send Newcastle back into the relegation zone.
“We were lucky it was only 2-0 then, because we lost every ball and if you make mistakes against a team like Manchester City, they will punish you”. I am sure I am better than two years ago.
Shortly after the second half had started, Saints were back in with a shout of getting at least a point from the Etihad as Shane Long – deputising for the suspended Graziano Pelle – nodded the ball into the City goal from a fantastic cross from the marauding Sadio Mane on the right wing.
Manuel Pellegrini: “The only confidence I have is always about my work”.
The 27-year-old was brought off on 65 minutes with City holding a 2-1 lead, but the former Real Madrid coach has played down the significance of the substitution. “We know it’s three in a week, but the fitness of the players is ok and we have a lot of competition in our squad, and that’s different than last season”. Southampton are having a good season.
“We will see [if it will keep him out of the next game]. They have good players and we need to play in a high performance if we want to win”.
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Manchester City host Southampton in the Premier League on Saturday, 28 November as the Citizens look to move back on top following a humbling defeat at the hands of Liverpool last week.
