Manchester City put Southampton in their place despite Mangala red

Manchester City highlighted the gap between Southampton’s form and league position on paper and the quality of their team with a 3-0 away win at St Mary’s.

Such was their superiority over their hosts, the visitors could have had at least three more goals to add to their tally. An early penalty appeal was incorrectly turned down against Sergio Aguero, Stevan Jovetic was denied by a miraculous block on the line and Aguero failed to round Fraser Forster late on.

The deadlock was broken shortly after half-time by Yaya Toure, who’s shot from outside the box flew past Forster after a slight deflection. Having lost Morgan Schneiderlin to injury at half-time, Southampton failed to close down the Ivorian and paid the price.

Eliaquim Mangala was sent off after 74 minutes following a second yellow card for a clumsy challenge, but Frank Lampard soon made it 2-0 with a similar strike to the opening goal.

Gael Clichy then scored his first Manchester City goal from a pass across the face of Forster’s goal from Aguero, with the Frenchman finally punishing Southampton for their failure throughout the match to protect their flanks when the play was switched.

The win takes City up to second place ahead of Southampton who will need a vast improvement against the big teams to have any chance of holding onto their top four status. Manuel Pellegrini’s side are now six points behind Chelsea after the Blues’ goalless draw on Saturday against Sunderland.

9' – YELLOW CARD: The referee believes that Sergio Aguero dived in the box and shows him a yellow card. Replays however show that Jose Fonte took out the striker and he should have won his side a penalty.

21' – CHANCES:  Southampton have three shots on goal but Joe Hart and his defenders manage to block all of them from close range. Pelle, Tadic and Davis all try their luck but their efforts are kept out by a mixture of flying bodies and overly predictable finishing.

21' – YELLOW CARD: Eliaquim Mangala gets a yellow for a heavy challenge against Tadic just outside the City box. The defender looks bemused as Tadic sets up the ball for him to take the free kick.

30' – CHANCE: How did Jovetic not score? The Montenegrin is played free down the left channel by Nasri and shoots through Forster's legs, but Alderweireld block the shot on the.

46' – SUBSTITUTION: Yoshida comes on for Schneiderlin after the Frenchman is taken injured at half-time.

51' – GOAL! Southampton 0-1 City. Southampton's defenders make a costly error, stepping of Toure who blasts the ball towards Forster's goal. The shot takes a slight deflection to help it on its way through as one of City's big names gives them the advantage.

74' – RED CARD: Another calamitous day in the Premier League for Eliaquim Mangala who picks up a second yellow card after clumsily bundling over Pelle at the edge of City's area.

80' – GOAL! Southampton 0-2 City. Another super sub appearance for Frank Lampard, who City must surely be hoping will stay in January to extend his loan move from New York City FC. Again Southampton are at fault after being dispossessed high up the field and then failing to close down the veteran midfielder who scores from just outside the area.

88' – GOAL! Southampton 0-3 City. Gael Clichy scores his first goal for Manchester City following a wonderful pass from the outside of Sergio Aguero's right boot. The left-back has finally punished Southampton for failing to close the holes on the sides of their defence. Aguero spotted the gap to allow Clichy to find the net with an emphatic finish.

Manchester City never looked like losing, and with good reason going by their record in matches that make it through to half-time without a goal being scored.

Are Southampton genuine contenders for the Champions League? No. Against City the gap in quality both on the field and on the bench was clear. In the opening 20 minutes, Southampton looked like a mid-table outfit at best as they struggled to even leave their own half, while too often their attacks appeared to rely on luck rather than design. City controlled the game throughout while Southampton struggled to keep up. With Chelsea in a similarly commanding position at the top of the league, and big games against Arsenal and Manchester United to come, this game could become a model for their entire season as far as the top four goes.

Sergio Aguero (Man City): The Argentinian may not have found the net against Southampton but his movement was a constant source of irritation and worry for Ronald Koeman’s defence. His assist for Gael Clichy’s goal was wonderfully devised and executed with the forward sending the ball out to the full-back with an excellently struck pass from the outside of his right foot.

Southampton: Forster 8; Clyne 7, Fonte 6, Alderweireld 7, Bertrand 7; Schneiderlin 6, Wanyama 6; S.Davis 6, Tadic 7, Mane 6; Pelle 6. Subs: Yoshida 6, Long 6, Mayuka 6.

Manchester City: Hart 7; Zabaleta 6, Kompany 6, Mangala 4, Clichy 7; Navas 5, Fernandinho 6, Toure 8, Nasri 7; Jovetic 7, Aguero 8. Subs: Milner 7, Lampard 7, Demichelis 6.