Manchester City beat Southampton 3-1 at the Etihad Stadium

A poor first 30 minutes cost Ronald Koeman’s side, who followed up their loss at home to Stoke with defeat at the Etihad Stadium, their first top flight loss on the road this season.

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Kevin De Bruyne and Fabian Delph gave City a 2-0 lead, and though Saints rallied in the second period and pulled one back courtesy of Shane Long, the home side put the game beyond doubt when Aleksandar Kolarov fired home.

Saints will now hope for an upturn in fortunes as they host Liverpool in the quarter-finals of the Capital One Cup on Wednesday night.

City put the pressure on Saints from the kick-off and Maarten Stekelenburg was forced into a save inside the first minute of the game.

Raheem Sterling played a one-two with Yaya Toure and fired in a low shot across goal from the left side of the area. Stekelenburg had to dive quickly down to his left and was just about able to stop it.

The Saints keeper was in action again on six minutes as Aleksandar Kolarov whipped in a fantastic footed free kick from 25 yards out that went over the wall and dipped. Stekelenburg was able to stop the ball and grab it on his way down just ahead of the Manchester City attackers who were sliding in looking for a tap in.

The pressure eventually told as City took the lead on nine minutes.

It was a horrible error from Maya Yoshida who attempted to take the ball past Sterling but was easily dispossessed.

The City winger flew forward down the left and centred for Kevin De Bruyne, who had the simple job of turning home from a couple of yards out.

City were running riot and nearly got a second three minutes later as Oriol Romeu’s loose pass was seized upon by Fabian Delph. His slide rule pass played in Sergio Aguero but Stekelenburg did superbly to charge off his line and save at his feet.

Saints really were under the pump, unable to keep the ball, making errors under pressure in possession and hitting long passes up front which without Graziano Pelle just gave it away.

City had huge appeals for a penalty waved away by referee Roger East on 20 minutes. It was the result of a free header from a corner by Fernandinho which was heading into the net before Steven Davis on the post got it behind. Replays showed he lent into it and seemed to deflect it wide with his arm, which would have been a penalty and a red card had East spotted it.

However, the reprieve was short lived as the next corner produced a goal.

It was flashed low out to the edge of the area to Delph, who drilled it left footed into the area. The ball took a big deflection off of Virgil van Dijk and left Stekelenburg had no chance.

• Manchester City 3 Southampton 1 - in pictures >>
• Manchester City 3 Southampton 1 - as it happened >>

Saints created their first opening on 22 minutes with van Dijk having a crack from 20 yards which struck the crossbar and went to safety.

They came close again six minutes later as Willy Caballerro’s punch from a James Ward-Prowse free kick fell to Victor Wanyama. He hit it towards goal but the City keeper made the save.

Saints were briefly down to ten men after Jose Fonte limped off for treatment and City almost took advantage as a flowing move ended with Sterling firing over from six yards out.

Fonte was not able to carry on and was replaced by Steven Caulker on 36 minutes.

Saints created a further chance four minutes before the break with Shane Long shooting from the edge of the area but Caballero pushed it away.

Koeman made a half time change with Dusan Tadic coming on for Romeu with Ward-Prowse dropping to a deeper role alongside Wanyama.

Saints got themselves back into the game with a goal four minutes after the restart.

It was a simple pass down the right hand side from a free kick by Tadic. Sadio Mane sprinted forward and whipped in a wonderful cross that Long leapt highest at the far post to head home from six yards out.

Ward-Prowse was the first player in the book for a foul on Sterling. Martin Demichelis followed moments later after bringing down Long.

Toure had a go from the edge of the area but it was straight at Stekelenburg but it the second half was belonging to Saints with City suddenly off the pace.

Caballero made a save as Saints continued to press, keeping out Tadic from close range before a penalty appeal as the follow up from Long was blocked by the arm of Delph.

City made a change on 64 minutes with Wilfried Bony replacing Aguero.

Caballero had another stop to make two minutes later, turning wide as Tadic tried his luck from 20 yards.

However, City got their two goal cushion back on 70 minutes.

Some neat interplay in the box ended with De Bruyne lifting the ball to Kolarov, who controlled on his chest and drilled a half volley across goal and into the far corner.

City responded by bringing on Fernando for Delph, and then David Silva for Sterling.

Saints made their final change with Juanmi on for Ward-Prowse on 77 minutes.

• Manchester City 3 Southampton 1 - in pictures >>
• Manchester City 3 Southampton 1 - as it happened >>

Mane worried City with a pacy run and shot with seven minutes remaining but Caballero was able to turn it wide with Long having wanted the pass in space on the far side.

Bony fired wildly off target in the closing stages but it didn’t matter for City who had already done enough to secure the win.