MX23RW : Monday, April 29 06:46:10| >> :120:20116:20116:

Manchester City 3-2 Southampton

Manchester City get their title defence off to a winning start with a 3-2 win over Southampton this afternoon.

Manchester City have got their Premier League title defence off to a winning start by beating Southampton 3-2 this afternoon.

The hosts should have taken the lead within 20 minutes when Carlos Tevez was brought down inside the penalty area. David Silva stepped up, but his spot kick was poor and comfortably saved by Kelvin Davis.

The champions did take the lead five minutes before the break when Tevez fired past Davis from close range, although replays suggested that the striker was offside.

Tevez came close again before the break, and City picked up where they left off earlier in the second half when Samir Nasri found Edin Dzeko, who could only fire straight at Davis.

The hosts continued to pour forward and squandered good chances through Gael Clichy and Silva, the latter of whom hit the crossbar with his effort.

Then, against the run of play, Southampton grabbed an equaliser through Rickie Lambert's low strike. Things got even better for the Saints with just over 20 minutes left as they took the lead through debutant Steven Davis.

City responded as only champions can, however, and pulled level through Dzeko with 15 minutes left on the clock and almost took the lead a minute later through Tevez.

Dzeko came close again before the hosts got the winner ten minutes from time through Nasri's strike after poor defending from Southampton.

ID:40970: cacheID:40970:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2826:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Carlos Tevez
Read Next:
Half-Time Report: Manchester City 1-0 Southampton
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal35255585285780
2Manchester CityMan City34247382325079
3Liverpool35229477364175
4Aston Villa35207873522167
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs33186967521560
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd34166125251154
7Newcastle UnitedNewcastle341651374551953
8West Ham UnitedWest Ham351310125665-949
9Chelsea33139116359448
10Bournemouth35139135260-848
11Wolverhampton WanderersWolves35137154855-746
12Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton341111125257-544
13Fulham35127165155-443
14Crystal Palace351010154557-1240
15Everton35128153748-1136
16Brentford3598185260-835
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3579194262-2026
18Luton TownLuton3567224877-2925
19Burnley3559213870-3224
RSheffield UnitedSheff Utd3537253497-6316


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!