Manchester City were held to a surprising goalless draw by Premier League bottom side Southampton on Saturday, dealing a blow to their hopes of securing a top-five finish, as Brentford and Brighton continued their push for European qualification.
Pep Guardiola’s side were widely expected to claim an easy win on the south coast and draw level with second-placed Arsenal on 67 points.
Despite dominating the ball and welcoming back leading scorer Erling Haaland from injury, they failed to find a breakthrough.
City controlled proceedings at St Mary’s Stadium, registering 26 shots, but only five were on target in what proved to be a frustrating afternoon for the visitors.
At the final whistle, home supporters erupted in celebration — not for survival, as Southampton’s relegation had already been confirmed — but for a rare positive result in a dismal campaign.
The draw lifts the managerless Saints to 12 points for the season, allowing them to narrowly avoid matching Derby County’s record-low total of 11 from the 2007/08 season.
City, despite the setback, remain in third and are still in a strong position to secure Champions League qualification.
With two matches left, they sit four points ahead of sixth-placed Nottingham Forest, although their closest challengers have a game in hand.
City’s title ambitions unravelled earlier in the season, particularly during a poor run in November and December — a campaign Guardiola has described as the most difficult of his 16-year managerial career.
