City 2 Southampton 1
Nov 2nd 2019 att.53,922
Phew! That was not easy. Southampton came to defend and often packed the penalty area with 9 players. A dreadful error by Ederson gave an early Christmas present to the Saints! What should have been an easy basic save ended with the visitors taking a surprise lead.
City dominated the play but virtually every effort was blocked by the ;packed and very organized Saints defence. We had to wait until the 70th minute for a cross from Walker to be hammered home by Aguero from close range to equal the score and in the final minutes Walker scored the winner after a cross from Angelino was only pushed out by McCarthy into the path of Walker.It was a moment of great relief and will be remembered as a vital goal in this seasons campaign.
The defence hardly had a thing to do as the visitors rarely got into our half. Interesting to see Angelino preferred to Mendy at left back though!
ex service veterans come into the ground
The visitors once more have plenty of fans
City made several changes from the Villa win - Walker, Aguero and Angelino coming in for Cancelo, Jesus and Mendy
Aguero heads wide from Angelino cross
Silva can't break through
On 13 minutes A shot from Armstrong goes straight at Ederson but he fails to hold it.......
......and Ward-Prowse following up scores to give Southampton the lead - disaster!
Benardo is brought down and Hojbjerg gets a yellow card
The wall blocks the free kick
City appeal for a penalty but no VAR
Ederson ventures well out of goal!
near escape for the Saints
Ederson on the move again
McCarthy saves despite the attention of Silva
Stones heads over at a corner
Ederson saves from Ings making no mistake this time
A shot from Silva is blocked
Southampton under pressure early in the second half
Fernandinho in action at a corner
Aguero heads for goal.....
....but alas the ball goes over the bar -good chance missed!
Jesus on for Silva does a bit of leaping
Walker takes the ball down the right wing and crosses.....
...to Sergio Aguero who shoots first time through the legs of the keeper into the goal - great 1-1......
no celebrations - get back to the centre
The North Stand can breathe again
Sterling has now switched to the right wing
A cross from Sterling and McCarthy saves from Benardo
The keeper gives away an indirect free kick for picking up a dropped ball - commotion time!
It's ages since I last saw an indirect fee kick in the penalty area - this one ends with Kevin's shot going wide
This time Sergio is outnumbered
Foden comes on for Benardo
A Gundogan effort is blocked
With only a few minutes to go Foden passes to Angelino and his cross is only partially cleared by the keeper.....
....and the ball drops to the feet of Walker who bangs it into the net - great stuff!!!!
Let the wild celebrations begin!
Walker is swamped while Foden tells the fans to shout louder!
The North Stand enjoy the moment
McCarthy beats Jesus to the ball
City on a break - surely number three
City try to keep the ball at the corner for the last few minutes!
Team
Ederson 5: Walker 8, Stones 7, Fernandinho 6.5, Angelino 7: Gundogan 6.5, De Bruyne 7,
Silva 6 (Jesus 6.5) Benardo 6.5 (Foden) Sterling 6.5 Aguero 7
