Manchester City host Southampton in an important Premier League clash on Saturday afternoon with the Citizens looking to win for the first time in four in all competitions here.
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Kevin De Bruyne was decisive in the win over Southampton, first in scoring the opening goal, then providing the delicious assist that supplied Aleksandar Kolarov the chance to make it 3-1 and kill off the challenge of a unsafe, resurgent Southampton.
Koeman saw improvement after the interval but admitted his side played into the opposition’s hands and were punished for their lacklustre start.
“We need to recover”, Pellegrini had acknowledged before the kick off, accepting that just one win in four league games is not the stuff of champions.
The Saints returned in the second half and pulled a goal back in the 50th minute through as Long met a cross from Sadio Mane to head past City goalkeeper.
But City weathered the comeback attempt and took the sting out of the game with a third goal after 69 minutes.
“But this match was not a question of tactics or the line-up – it was about the mistakes we made in the first 20 minutes”.
City got the goal they deserved – Delph’s goal coming from the resulting corner rather than from the penalty spot – but were unlucky not to be facing 70 minutes against ten men.
More boos came when Pellegrini delayed introducing David Silva, out since October, into the match.
Check out this free online live stream of the game here, and watch Manchester City Vs Southampton in this Barclays Premier League matchup!
Manchester City will be hoping to end a disappointing week on a positive note when they welcome Southampton to the Etihad Stadium in fixture that they have won in each of the last three seasons.
Delph’s deployment in a midfield two alongside Fernandinho allowed Pellegrini to play Toure in a more advanced role just off Aguero.
City will be missing players such as Joe Hart, captain Vincent Kompany, Pablo Zabaleta and Eliaquim Mangala.
Super Eagles forward Kelechi Iheanacho warmed up on the sidelines alongside returning David Silva but it was the Spaniard that was brought on in the second half as the Nigerian was eventually not played by Manuel Pellegrini. “You must have trust in your work, that’s very important”. Both Long and Mane repeatedly felt the brunt of his tough tackling.
The visitors missed a good chance to equalise on the hour mark, when James Ward-Prowse found Dusan Tadic for a one-on-one opportunity, but Caballero made himself big to deny the Serbian midfielder.
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Some neat interplay in the box ended with De Bruyne lifting the ball to Kolarov, who controlled on his chest and drilled a half volley across goal and into the far corner.
