Southampton avoid unwanted record after shock draw with Man. City

Southampton salvaged a point in a surprising 0-0 Premier League draw with Manchester City on Saturday that meant they avoided being the joint-worst team in Premier League history.

Rock bottom and relegated Southampton had looked likely to equal Derby County’s season-low tally of 11 points in 2007-08, but the draw moved them to 12 as their fans at a sun-drenched St Mary’s Stadium sung loudly in celebration.

Pep Guardiola’s City remained third in the table on 65 points with two games remaining in their bid for Champions League qualification, although Newcastle United and Chelsea are only two points behind and Nottingham Forest trail by four with all three teams having a game in hand.

City’s prolific striker Erling Haaland played for the first time in six weeks and the visitors dominated with 26 shots to the home side’s two, but Southampton defended in numbers, particularly in the dying minutes, to deny them.

Omar Marmoush hammered a thunderous shot off the crossbar in added time, City’s best chance of the match.

Although Southampton have won only two games this season, they avoided the ignominy of sharing the unwanted record with Derby and the final whistle prompted raucous celebrations from their long-suffering supporters.

Southampton posted a message to Derby on social media platform X: “Sorry if we got your hopes up @dcfcofficial” with a sheepish emoji.

City arrived at the south coast on a nine-game unbeaten streak across all competitions, including four successive league wins, after finally finding form and consistency in a very disappointing campaign.

Ruben Diaz forced a terrific late save from Southampton goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, who leapt to push his glancing header over the bar. City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne also had a shot from outside the area blocked by Jan Bednarek.

Southampton could even have won it at the death when Cameron Archer burst into the box, but his shot from a tight angle went wide.