Match Report: City Vs. Southampton

At approximately half seven on Saturday evening it's fair to say City fans witnessed the best bit of news that day. The final whistle after the worst performance and defeat since April 2011 away to Liverpool almost two years ago. A passionless, gutless, woeful performance by a City team that are second in the league trying to claw back a nine point lead City have further let slip through their fingers. A lead that has been now stretched to twelve points after Manchester United's victory over Everton at Old Trafford.

Jason Puncheon opening the scoring for The Saints

City boss Roberto Mancini made a few changes to the team that drew 2-2 at home to Liverpool with Samir Nasri coming in for James Milner, and Yaya Toure replacing Majita Nastasic with Javi Garcia being forced back out of position into centre half. On the other hand Southampton were without Gaston Ramirez, Luke Shaw and Nathaniel Clyne. With the game kicked off it was evident from the first minutes of the contest that one side were going to contest every bit of play and possession available to them, and it wasn't the team you'd imagine being top of the Premier League.

After only eight minutes Gareth Barry received the ball before taking an extraordinary amount of time on the ball before being dispossessed by Jason Puncheon in the middle of the park. The Southampton winger broke into the City danger area before laying the ball onto the on running Jay Rodriguez before being eventually met by Joe Hart only for him to spill the ball into the path on Puncheon again who only had to side foot the ball into an empty net. One nil Saints. Fifteen minutes later some more sloppy play by City allowed the Saints to capitalize on a howler by Joe Hart. Some neat one two work on the edge of the box led to Ricki Lambert being set free on the City left hand side. Lambert's swift shot was somehow fumbled by England's number one Joe Hart for Steven Davis to tap in. A mistake which would cost City dearly and a mirror image of the mistake Hart made away at Leicester two years ago in the FA Cup.

More Southampton pressure continued after some extremely sloppy defending by City the ball fell into the path of ex Burnley forward Jay Rodriguez who somehow managed to fire a curly shot wide of the City post. With the first half drawing to a close City made an attempt on goal finally. David Silva found the on running Pablo Zabaleta who bombed down the right hand touch line of the Saint's box before whipping a ball into City forward Edin Dzeko who only just managed to score past the only looking Artur Boruc in the Southampton net. A lifeline for City.

Yet again the second half was pretty much a carbon copy of the first half, exactly like the performance at home to Liverpool. Three minutes into the half a simple ball in from Ricki Lambert was somehow passed into his own net by Gareth Barry from the penalty box for the most extraordinary own goal in the league this season. Saints had restored their two goal led and one in which they deserved fully. The game pretty much drew to a close with City blessed to have only lost by two. Some woeful attempts at goal by Southampton that would have been converted by a forward with real conviction made the scoreline flattering for City.

A helpless Joe Hart can only watch on after his mistake

Serious questions will need to be asked at the football club over the next few days. City boss has a lot to blame for his clubs league position especially when he chooses not to play a passed fit Vincent Kompany. Kompany, who passed a fitness test Saturday morning, was left out of the entire squad whilst Carlos Tevez was told to stay at home leaving no Striker on the bench for the reigning Champions. However the book can not be solely passed to Mancini as he was victim of some terrible decisions behind the scenes over the summer. With Brian Marwood failing to capture any of his targets like Napoli's Edinson Cavani, Lille's Eden Hazard and Roma's Danielle De Rossi and bringing in players like Scott Sinclair, Maicon and an inexperienced Jack Rodwell as cover before the club decided to let Nigel De Jong join AC Milan. I personally feel that City as a club and us as fans owe Mancini one final year to go out and make the squad stronger after a horrific summer last year.

Also the team needs to be looked at and refreshed massively. Joe Hart desperately needs competition as I am feeling his success, which he truly deserved, is going to his head. His mistake against Saint's can happen but the times when he refuses to leave his goal line will eventually cost us. Samir Nasri's passion and desire at the club is under serious questioning after another no show from the french-man. Aleksandr Kolarov, Edin Dzeko and personally Carlos Tevez positions also need to be looked as none of the three give as much as they are capable of giving to the cause when it's needed. So ends a fortnight.

A picture telling a thousand words

Player Ratings: 

Joe Hart - 3

Very disorganized yet again in the City goal yesterday. Refusing to come out when needed and cause of the second goal for Southampton.

Pablo Zabaleta - 6

Not his usual self but very difficult for him to shine in a team that looked like they didn't want to be there.

Javi Garcia- 5

His positioning at times was shocking, however he did make some important defensive clearances to prevert City being whitewashed.

Joleon Lescott - 4.5

A shadow of his former self since QPR last May. Understandable now why Mancini was looking to replace the England International last summer. Too many mistakes and bad timing from one so experienced.

Gael Clichy - 5

Can't recall his name being mentioned by the commentator. Didn't do a lot wrong but didn't do a lot right either.

Yaya Toure - 5

Looked tired, jet lagged, and short of proper fitness. Very slow and lazy in position, certainly not the Yaya we love and adore.

Gareth Barry - 2

Can't remember him going through a worst spell in a blue shirt over the previous three weeks. Very sloppy with the ball and ultimately the cost of two goals for us.

David Silva - 4

Like Nasri, a complete no show. Brilliant pass to set Zabaleta away for the first goal but nothing other than that for the man we call Merlin.

Samir Nasri - 3

Minimal impact on the game on Saturday. This is becoming a habit for the ex- Arsenal man and really not displaying what he is capable of.

Edin Dzeko - 5.5

Finished off a great move for City's first goal but was as good as anonymous yesterday exactly like Liverpool. No contribution to the team only for the goal.

Sergio Aguero - 5

Nothing to give to the game at all. No chances created for him to show his talent, however he was one of the better ones from a bad bunch on Saturday.


Hero of the Day: Jason Puncheon. Bet the Saints fans are happy he's back and all's forgiven with the Englishman. The biggest threat to a very poor City team and was the difference.


Villian of the Day: Gareth Barry/Samir Nasri. Barry ultimately cost City two goals in the tie whilst Samir Nasri may as well have stayed at home in Manchester.