Manchester City returned to winning ways in the Premier League and reduced the gap to the top four with a hard-fought victory over in-form Southampton at St Mary’s.
Raheem Sterling swept in from Kevin de Bruyne’s cutback after 16 minutes as Pep Guardiola’s side stamped their authority following the hosts’ energetic start.
Southampton, who began the day third in the table, responded well but their efforts to draw level were hampered by the loss of striker Danny Ings through injury before half-time.
In a tightly contested second half, Bernardo Silva miscued his shot after being played in by De Bruyne, while the hosts had appeals for a penalty for handball against Sterling dismissed by VAR.
Saints goalkeeper Alex McCarthy kept his side’s hopes of salvaging a result alive with a good save from Ilkay Gundogan’s curled shot, but Sterling’s finish proved decisive for a City side which had drawn their past two games.
City moved one point behind fourth-placed Southampton and eight adrift of leaders Liverpool, having played one game fewer than both.
Following champions Liverpool’s emphatic 7-0 win at Crystal Palace – a result which temporarily left City 11 points behind their recent title adversaries – Guardiola’s misfiring side could ill afford a repeat of their recent shortcomings.
Registering 25 shots in a frustrating 1-1 draw with West Brom on Tuesday, the scoring issues that have contributed to their Spanish manager’s worst ever start to a top-flight campaign appear unlikely to subside any time soon.
Facing a confident Saints side that weathered 26 shots in beating City 1-0 in July, Sterling’s controlled right-footed opener forced the hosts to ask the questions – and a defence led by £65m signing Ruben Dias effectively endured Saints’ relentless press.
But in the absence of unfit striker Gabriel Jesus, and with the injury-plagued Sergio Aguero again on the bench, summer signing Ferran Torres managed just one shot as City struggled to create openings.
Silva, making his fifth league start of the season, produced several mazy runs but was unable to finish from another quality De Bruyne pass and the problem for City remains clear, with their 19 goals this campaign paling in comparison to the 37 they managed after 13 games last term.
Victory was undoubtedly the most important thing for City after their midweek setback though, and this was a crucial one following Liverpool’s earlier statement of intent.