MANCHESTER: A near-capacity crowd failed to inspire Manchester City as the English Premier League champion was held by Southampton to a frustrating 0-0 at Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
Pep Guardiola’s team might even have felt relieved to claim a point after referee Jon Moss overturned decisions to award Southampton a penalty and send Kyle Walker off in the second half.
Statistically, City dominated but the team lacked its normal cutting edge, perhaps underlining Guardiola’s point in midweek that his players would go into the game tired after their Champions League exertions against Leipzig on Wednesday.
Raheem Sterling thought he snatched victory with a last-gasp strike but the flag was raised for offside and VAR confirmed the decision.
Guardiola issued a rallying cry to fans after the remarkable 6-3 victory over Leipzig, which took City’s goal tally in its last three home games to 16, and the supporters responded by producing a vibrant atmosphere.
Yet it was not enough for the hosts, even if they controlled most of the possession and created the better chances.
Clear-cut opportunities were at a premium in the first half, though, as City failed to muster a shot on target.
Sterling, making his first Premier League start since the opening day of the season, started in the center forward position with Gabriel Jesus on the right.
The pair combined well at times but, with a stubborn Southampton blunting their threat, it was not a surprise to see them switch positions in the second period.
As well as being resilient, Saints were also positive on the break but they were unable to seriously trouble Ederson in an even start to the contest.
City eventually began to assert a measure of control and Sterling played Ilkay Gundogan in on goal with a nice ball but Alex McCarthy was quick to deal with the danger.
The hosts created further chances before the break without testing McCarthy. Jack Grealish had a dangerous cross cut out and Sterling curled an effort wide.
A low Jesus ball was then too strong for Bernardo Silva and the Brazilian also missed the target with a header.
Saints’ best opportunity in the first half saw Mohamed Elyounoussi shoot tamely at Ederson but the visitors stepped up the tempo after the restart with Che Adams dragging an effort across goal.
Controversy erupted when Southampton was awarded a penalty after Walker appeared to bundle into the back of Armstrong.
Moss had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and was quick to show the red card to Walker but the referee was invited to review the whole incident again on the monitor following a VAR check. Much to the relief of City, he decided to cancel the penalty and overturn the sending off, with Armstrong appearing to foul Walker instead.
Guardiola responded to the let-off by sending on Kevin De Bruyne, Riyad Mahrez and Phil Foden from the bench in quick succession.
Still, Southampton continued to press with Nathan Redmond threatening with a weaving run into the area and Adams curling a shot wide.
City picked up the intensity in the closing minutes and thought it had found a way through when Sterling smashed home a rebound after McCarthy brilliantly kept out Foden’s header. Moss ruled out the effort for offside and a tense few moments followed as VAR checked the decision but the effort did not count.
City dropped points for the second time in five games in the league, after losing at Tottenham 1-0 in the opening round.
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