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Manchester City strengthened their hopes of a top-four Premier League finish as a slick second-half display saw off a subdued Southampton.
Injury-hit skipper Vincent Kompany headed David Silva’s left-wing corner past keeper Fraser Forster’s weak save for his first goal in 20 months.
Leroy Sane drilled in Kevin de Bruyne’s pass after a quick counter, with Sergio Aguero’s far-post volley sealing it.
Pep Guardiola’s side are third, seven points clear of fifth-placed Everton.
Mid-table Saints failed to create many chances against a City side well marshalled by Kompany, with Dusan Tadic shooting over before the break.
Claude Puel’s side, who were attempting to win three successive league games for the first time under the Frenchman, remain in ninth place.
How would City’s season have panned out had they had a fully fit Kompany playing regularly?
Many Blues fans would suggest their team would be much closer to leaders Chelsea – and, on the evidence of his performance against Southampton, it is hard to disagree.
City’s talismanic captain has made just eight appearances in another campaign limited by niggling injuries, but returned at St Mary’s with an imperious display.
While Kompany will grab the headlines for his goal, his work at the other end of the pitch – leadership, organisation and composure – is what the Blues have been lacking at times this season.
City’s defensive resilience meant keeper Claudio Bravo – trusted again by Guardiola – barely had to make a save.
And it laid the platform for the visitors to cut Saints apart once Kompany, who marked his goal with an exuberant celebration, had made the breakthrough.
“I scored in front of the away fans and for me it was a great feeling,” the Belgian said.
“I feel like I want to give so much but I am restrained at times. I keep positive and keep going no matter what.”
Guardiola might have thought winning the Premier League during his first season in English football would be relatively straightforward after starting with seven successive wins.
Instead, the Spaniard goes into the top-flight run-in facing a tense wait to see if his team are good enough to finish in the top four.
If City play with this sort of defensive resilience, in conjunction with their already lethal attacking play, it will be hard to see either Everton or Manchester United overhauling them.
Once the visitors took a deserved lead, they looked resolute at the back and picked off Saints on the break with a clinical counter-attack to double their advantage.
De Bruyne led the charge as City broke quickly, expertly picking out Sane for the young German to drill low under Forster.
De Bruyne was also the architect for the third, clipping a right-wing cross to the far post for Aguero to secure City’s first win in four away matches.
“This result is so important for our qualification for the Champions League,” said Guardiola, whose side host neighbours United in their next league game.
“It will go to the last game for the Champions League. It will be so tough.
Source:BBC SPORTS