Daily Echo:

EVEN a world-class performance from Fraser Forster was not enough for Saints on a dramatic night at the Etihad.

The much-maligned goalkeeper will not forget his 100th Saints appearance in a hurry.

Nor will those privileged to witness it.

Forster thwarted the likes of Sergio Aguero, Fernandinho, Raheem Sterling and Kevin De Bruyne with a succession of breathtaking stops.

He continued to keep his side in the game after Virgil van Dijk’s own goal, before Oriol Romeu silenced the Etihad with a dramatic 75th minute equaliser – only for Sterling to break Saints’ hearts deep into injury time.

On a bitterly cold night in Manchester, Saints’ gutsy performance certainly warmed the cockles.

Pellegrino looked to have outwitted Pep Guardiola, his former Barcelona teammate, before City snatched a 12th successive Premier League victory in the fifth minute of injury time.

You could hardly blame Pellegrino for taking a defensive approach against a City side that had scored 39 goals in winning its previous 11 games.

Pellegrino made five changes to the team that beat Everton 4-1 in selecting three centre-halves for the first time in the league.
Maya Yoshida formed a triumvirate of resilience alongside Van Dijk and Wesley Hoedt.

Mario Lemina, Oriol Romeu, Nathan Redmond and Shane Long were also recalled, while Steven Davis, James Ward-Prowse, Dusan Tadic, Sofiane Boufal and Charlie Austin made way.

An early Fabian Delph shot was comfortably saved by Forster, whose athleticism soon came to the fore.

Fernandinho fizzed a 25-yarder just wide, but Saints had chances of their own.

They responded by winning a corner when Kompany cut out Shane Long’s cross from the right.

Bertrand’s flag-kick was flicked on by Maya Yoshida at the near post and Hoedt headed it against the bar from inside the six-yard box.

City broke immediately. Aguero’s shot bounced off the chest of a diving Forster, who saved the follow-up well from Jesus as he dived low to his left.
He soon produced an even better save.

Diving low to his left, his strong left hand withstood Ferandinho’s sidefooter from inside the area.

De Bruyne’s corner was headed over by Aguero and Saints continued to threaten on the counter, with Moraes quick to save at Long’s feet .

As you would expect, City dominated possession. Their probing was mesmerising, but Saints continued to resist.

Yoshida did well to head away a Sterling cross and Forster’s magnificent performance continued. He saved with his feet to keep out Aguero, before watching with relief as the rebound was fired into the sidenetting by Gundogan.

It was goalkeeping of the highest quality and, against one of the best teams on the planet, will have done wonders for Forster’s confidence.

Long hit the deck when Kompany’s arm connected with his face as they challenged for the ball in front of the dug outs.

There was certainly no malice, but there was no doubt City were becoming frustrated as the crowd grew restless.

Saints soon went close again.

Lemina got the better of Kompany and Redmond’s corner was headed down by Van Dijk, before Yoshida volleyed over with the side of an outstretched foot.

Kompany was booked for a foul on Long as ‘Come on City’ echoed around the Etihad.

It was a measure of Saints’ first-half performance that a pitch invader running the full length of the pitch gained the biggest cheer from the City faithful.

But they were soon ahead. De Bruyne’s inswinging free-kick from the left was diverted in at the near post by Van Dijk at the start of the second half.

Moments later, Jesus wriggled free of Yoshida and shot narrowly wide of the far post.

Jesus sent another left-footer narrowly wide and after dispossessing Yoshida a swift one-two with Aguero gave him another chance.

But the brilliant Forster was too good in the one-on-one, flicking the ball away from the Argentinian with an outstretched arm.

He soon bettered that by soaring to his right to keep a ferocious De Bruyne strike out of the top corner, before Aguero headed over the Belgian's free kick.

Another Forster save kept out Fernandinho but Saints, who drew 1-1 here last season, were still in the game.

Hoedt won a corner from Redmond’s free kick, which Van Dijk headed over.

Then, incredibly, Saints levelled.

Ryan Bertrand did brilliantly to get the better of his man before dinking a cross from the byline to the far post. It was controlled by Boufal, who had replaced Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg ten minutes earlier.  

The Moroccan’s inside ball was struck home by an ecstatic Romeu.

It was no more than Saints deserved.

The Etihad was silenced before boos echoed as Cedric Soares limped off after receiving treatment.

There was plenty more drama during the five minutes of injury time.
Fernandinho was eventually penalised for fouling Forster as he challenged for the ball following a corner. But chaos ensued as the ball was in the net before the whistle was heard.

Then it happened.

Hearts were broken when Sterling curled a spectacular winner into the top corner with the last kick of the match.

The Etihad roared its approval. Even a limping Benjamin Mendy, sidelined with an ACL injury, joined in the raucous celebrations.

It was incredibly harsh on Saints, particularly Forster after a performance full of pride, guts and no little passion.
 

Saints: Forster, Soares (McQueen 85) , Yoshida, Hoedt, Van Dijk, Bertrand, Romeu, Lemina, Hojbjerg (Boufal 64), Redmond, Long (Austin 83).
Subs not used: McCarthy, Davis, Tadic, Gabbiadini.

Man City: Ederson, Walker, Kompany, Otamendi, Delph, De Bruyne, Fernandinho, Gundogan (B Silva 80), Sterling, Aguero, Jesus (D Silva 74).
Subs: Bravo, Danilo, Mangala, Zinchenko, Diaz.

Referee: Paul Tierney