English Premier League: Man City have trouble taking three against Southampton

Back to winning ways. No matter how you get there, as long as you get there, is normally the way the saying goes. And City took this saying to heart.

Two teams fighting for different reasons. One team, the home team, looking to get their season back on track and save their Premier League status. The visiting team, in search of points to keep their hopes of retaining their Premier League title alive.

For some reason saying the game became ugly sounds like an understatement. The game was far from easy on the eye and the points earned by Pep and City, came at the cost of controversy. That’s according to new manager, Ralph Hasenhüttl.

Him and a few others agree there were some mad and bad decisions made on the day. However, despite the big turning point when the penalty was not handed to Southampton, the game had its moments that showcased some of the same frailties displayed in the losses prior to the Saints victory.

David Silva led the way for the Citizens early in the first half of the match. A rare mistake by City was punished and Pierre-Emile Højbjerg. The game was back to where it started, scores even. The moment of madness conjured up City came soon after. Fortunately, it came at no expense of a spot kick 12-yards out, as mentioned and noted by Ralph.

After the goal drought, Sterling’s ricocheted Ward-Prowse own goal and Aguero’s late first half stoppage time goal was enough to seal a victory.

It was still all City to be Frank, Arthur, or Martha.

Besides these bad match officiating moments and lapse of judgement by City players, it was all Manchester City. The scoreline not a true reflection of how many times the Citizens broke the backline of the Saints. Their could have been more if we were watching the Blues who led the league before the December busy period got underway.

This is where some of those troubles continue.

The Saints have it all to do sitting level on points with third last, Burnley. A bad end to the end of the year, but a good move to change hands at the top before the season hits the second half. Pep and City on the other hand, have pulled themselves seven points closer to the team in charge of taking their Premier League trophy.

They’ve given themselves enough hope and confidence before Thursday night, when the two meet inside the Etihad for the most important match of their campaigns, respectfully. Life to fight another day for the travelling Manchester team and a time to reconcile winning and Southampton for Ralph Hasenhüttl.