MAN CITY 3, SOUTHAMPTON 1
Sergio Aguero marked his 350th appearance with his 242nd and 243rd goals to help ease Manchester City into the quarter finals of the Carabao Cup.
With fellow Argentine Nicolas Otamendi also on the scoresheet it was a routine victory – solid rather than spectacular – against a Saints’ side which showed resolve in the wake of a 9-0 home defeat by Leicester City four days earlier.
And Saints rewarded their loyal travelling army with a late goal from Jack Stephens in the first of two games against City at the Etihad in the space of four days. They are back on Saturday in the Premier League.
It was also a chance for Pep Guardiola to look at some of City’s talented young players as Tommy Doyle, an England U18 player, made his debut while Eric Garcia also started while Adrian Bernabe and Ian Poveda-Ocampo were on the bench.
Guardiola praised Doyle who played in an unaccustomed defensive midfield role as he did not want to risk Ilkay Gundogan while Rodri remains injured and Fernandinho is a makeshift centre-back.
Embed from Getty ImagesHe said: “Tommy only had a couple of days to get used to a new holding midfield position when normally he plays more forward.
“That is why Tommy played as I didn’t have another option. He was with us pre-season (on tour in America) and I have seen him in the academy and I had no doubt he would play to a good level.
“He played really good and I congratulate him on his debut.”
Guardiola praised his team saying they played “so seriously” in the opening period when they enjoyed 80 per cent possession and had 10 goal attempts to Saints’ none.
He added that it was good for those who didn’t play against Aston Villa on Saturday to get a game and it was “good for their rhythm”.
Saints’ manager Ralph Hasenhuttl admitted he feared for his team.
“It was important we showed a reaction which was the main goal for this match.
“We showed a reaction after a very difficult night on Friday against one of the best teams on the planet. It is not an easy place to come to.”
City handed a first-team debut to EDS U23 captain Doyle as Guardiola made nine changes from the side that beat Aston Villa 3-0 on Saturday.
Gabriel Jesus and Bernardo Silva were the lone survivors from the starters as Aguero, one of those recalled, lined up alongside Jesus which was a rarity that both start together.
Southampton had only five survivors from the side beaten 9-0 at home by Leicester City on Friday.
They would also been mindful that City beat Burton Albion 9-0 last season in their last Carabao Cup game at the Etihad.
City’s most potent attacking threat early on was left-back Angelino who had two decent strikes at goal that both forced saves from Alex McCarthy.
It was another defender, Otemendi who made the breakthrough in the 20th minute heading home a Bernardo Silva cross from six yards, his second goal of the season.
It was Otamendi’s second goal in six games, as many as in his previous 66 games for City.
City doubled their lead in the 38th minutes as Aguero marked his milestone appearance with a goal.
A sweeping move from left to right ended with Kyle Walker crossing for the Argentine to volley home from seven yards.
City were beginning to take total command as Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva both forced smart saves from McCarthy in quick succession.
Aguero grabbed a second goal and City’s third in the 55th minute thanks to a slice of good fortune.
Riyad Mahrez’s shot from distance deflected off Jan Bednarek and looped over Saints’ defence for Aguero to volley home from just inside the six-yard box his 243rd City goal and 12th of the season.
City made their first change mid-half when Walker made way for Joao Cancelo.
Saints had their first goal attempt of the game in the 65th minute as visiting fans chanted they had had a shot.
It was a terrific strike from Sofiane Boufal which was bending in until Claudio Bravo dived full length low to his right to deflect it around the post for a corner.
Bravo was called into action for a second time to keep out a decent effort from centre-back Jack Stephens following a James Ward-Prowse corner.
Saints’ fans were in fine voice when they found the net with 15 minutes left when Stephens headed home Ward-Prowse’s corner at the far post.
City had been preparing to bring on both of their EDS youngsters but were forced to abort the plan when Angelino went down with what appeared to be cramp as John Stones was hurriedly summoned from the bench.
Guardiola made his final switch when Bernabe made a home debut in the 87th minute when he replaced Jesus.
City overall had 77 per cent possession and 19 goal attempts to Saints’ five which were all in the last quarter of the game. It underlined how straightforward a win as Guardiola’s side breezed into the last eight without too much difficulty.