Manchester City 1-0 Southampton: Erling Haaland’s acrobatic winner sends Pep Guardiola’s side to the Premier League summit

Top beat bottom as expected but not in the straightforward manner anticipated. In fact, struggling Southampton took more positives in defeat than champions Manchester City did by collecting the points.

When Erling Haaland scored after five minutes – a more orthodox finish than his astounding kung-fu volley in midweek – an expectant Etihad waited for the floodgates to open.

It never happened because Saints performed far better than their league position suggested and hit the crossbar through Cameron Archer.

Even the trophy-laden Pep Guardiola viewed it as an education as Russell Martin’s players showed courage trying to play their football in one of the game’s toughest environments

‘I am going to learn a lot with Russell because they did really well,’ said the respectful City boss.

‘If they had possession (50% in the first half), it was not because we were bad – it was because they were good. They opened the channels and their build-up was excellent.

‘Maybe in the future I can use it. I have learned a lot in my career from opposing managers.’

For Martin, a near-miss at The Etihad is justification of his methods which have been criticised as naïve during a winless start to the campaign

‘Pep congratulated us afterwards on the way we play. It is not easy and he probably understands that more than anyone,’ he said.

‘We played with extreme courage and if the players can do that here, they can do it anywhere. I am going to live or die by the sword of what I believe in.’

It should be pointed out City did get over the line and remain unbeaten at home since November 2022 – when Lionel Messi hadn’t won a World Cup.

They leapfrogged Liverpool and will stay in pole position unless Arne Slot’s side win at Arsenal on Sunday.

A late equaliser by Wolves at Brighton left Saints rock-bottom and the upbeat slant on their showing will appear hollow unless they beat Everton next weekend to give themselves a chance of survival.

Their No1 Aaron Ramsdale was the busier goalkeeper and, on another day, Haaland could have added another hat-trick match ball to his collection.

But given the doom-mongers that predicted a City romp, Southampton did create danger. Besides Archer’s one-on-one, only a hacked clearance by Manuel Akanji then prevented substitute Paul Onuachu levelling with a header in second-half injury-time.

It was testimony to City’s discomfort that an extra centre-half, John Stones, was sent on in the final minute to ensure the points were secured.

Guardiola only named five outfield substitutes because of a lengthy injury list that included Kevin De Bruyne, Jack Grealish and Jeremy Doku.

Their fast start was rewarded when Matheus Nunes whipped in a cross from the left and Haaland ignore the attentions of Jan Bednarek to reach the ball with his left foot whilst toppling backwards.

City wingers Savinho and Nunes caused Southampton’s back-five problems on either flank but the patience of the visitors playing through the lines almost paid dividends when wing-back Ryan Manning galloped into acres of space and his cross had to be dealt with by the excellent Josko Gvardiol.

At the start of the second half, Phil Foden shot wide and Haaland was denied by a goal-line clearance from Taylor Harwood-Bellis and then couldn’t convert a Savinho cross from a few yards.

The pesky visitors couldn’t be put away and Saints also felt they had a rough time from referee Tony Harrington, who penalised Flynn Downes and then booked him for a great tackle on Bernardo Silva.

Manager Martin was also cautioned. ‘I am annoyed about that. All I did was throw my arms up in the air,’ complained the Saints boss who will serve a touchline ban in the Carabao Cup this week.

Half-time Saints substitute Adam Armstrong ran the channels tirelessly and tested Ederson. Centre-forward Paul Onuachu came on for a final charge and worried City with his power in the air.