Southampton Bring Manchester City’s 12-game Winning Run To An End

Southampton brought Manchester City’s 12-game winning run in the Premier League to an end at St Mary’s Stadium on Saturday evening, as they played out a 1-1 draw.

Kyle Walker-Peters gave the Saints the lead just seven minutes in, but City responded in the second period and grabbed an equaliser through Aymeric Laporte.

Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side went toe to toe with Pep Guardiola’s charges in the first half and threw the Premier League leaders off their rhythm, which was aided by the fact that their goal came so early in the match.

The opening goal from Walker-Peters saw the right-back get forward, receive the ball inside the box and fire an outside-of-the-foot shot into the back of the net, which is his first goal in the Premier League.

Southampton had Mohammed Salisu in excellent form at the back and he came to his side’s rescue on numerous occasions, particularly as the game advanced.

However, it felt inevitable that there would be a reaction from City after the half-time break, and so it proved.

City began to have a lot of possession inside Southampton’s half and, eventually, they managed to find a way back into the game. Kevin De Bruyne’s free-kick cross was met by Aymeric Laporte, who made a late run and guided his effort past Fraser Forster.

The Southampton fans had to hold their breath on a couple of occasions in the latter part of the match, as first a VAR review checked a foul by Oriol Romeu on De Bruyne on the edge of the box before another VAR review saw Stuart Armstrong come under the spotlight for a high challenge on Laporte. On both occasions, the Saints got away with it.

Salisu and his Southampton teammates managed to hold on in the end to grab a wonderful point, while City now have a 12-point lead at the top of the table.