It feels like Southampton have got their performances the wrong way round – the defeat at Manchester City was one of their better efforts of the entire season.
Their concentration levels were excellent, particularly in defence, their passing was good and they chose the right time to counter-attack.
Pep Guardiola and Phil Foden praised Russell Martin’s team and the warm words were genuinely meant.
But Southampton ended the game without a point, which is exactly the same as they got against Leicester City the week before, when they were not as good, particularly in that frantic last half hour when the contest was completely turned on its head.
The reality is Southampton’s Premier League survival will not be determined by what they do against City, but it definitely will be in games like the Leicester one.
With Everton and Wolves to come, Russell Martin needs to get his team to perform when it really matters – otherwise there will be no escape from their present predicament.
