Southampton

3.08

• 
  21

  3

  3.00

  Artur Boruc

  Had surprisingly little to do in the first half as the hosts moved two up, but was finally beaten by Dzeko when he was caught slightly out of position. Kept Southampton's two-goal cushion intact when he denied Aguero with a fine stop.

• 
  8

  3

  3.00

  Nathaniel Clyne

  Looked good defensively and was a threat going forward, supporting Puncheon well. Nearly scored at 2-0 with a deflected long-range effort which flew just over. It was a solid performance among one of the best team performances of the season.

• 
  21

  2

  3.50

  Maya Yoshida

  Always reads the game well, and this game was no different. Stuck tight to Dzeko and Aguero wherever possible and made it very difficult for City to get in behind. But for Dzeko's goal, the visitors hardly looked like scoring and that was - for a large part - down to Yoshida.

• 
  8

  3

  2.50

  Jos Hooiveld

  Dealt with the high balls well and is forming a good partnership with Yoshida in the absence of Jose Fonte, but conceded a dangerous free kick on the edge of his own box before the break and was a regular infringer as City got back into the game.

• 
  7

  3

  3.00

  Daniel Fox

  Standing in for Luke Shaw, who has been excellent this season, Fox had a lot to prove, and he looked strong in the when Nasri and Zabaleta pushed forward, as well as making a couple of telling clearances. Also played several good balls forward but his evening ended on a sour not as he limped off with 20 minutes remaining.

• 
  7

  3

  2.50

  Morgan Schneiderlin

  Was part of a solid midfield unit which pressed City well, but his individual performance was fairly quiet, although he had an excellent chance in first-half stoppage time, volleying wide of the post before belting another first-time effort wide.

• 
  7

  3

  3.00

  Steven Davis

  Sitting in front of Cork and Schneiderlin, Davis' intent was to provide attacking support, and he did just that when he was first to Hart's howler to put away the second goal. Made an excellent burst forward before the break, floating a superb cross over to Schneiderlin who fired wide.

• 
  8

  4

  2.50

  Jack Cork

  Had a slow start, losing possession a couple of times, and was caught out by City's counter attack for Dzeko's goal, but with Schneiderlin and Davis he helped Southampton put pressure on the visitors when they had the ball. Was much quieter in the second half but it was a solid, if unspectacular, performance.

• 
  15

  2

  4.00

  Jason Puncheon Top of the Match

  One of Saints most consistent performers this season, and proved a threat right from the off, opening the scoring with a cool finish after starting the move by dispossessing Barry, before drilling a volley wide of the post and then blasting over early after the break. Replaced by Lallana with half an hour left but produced another fine performance.

• 
  14

  4

  3.00

  Rickie Lambert

  As ever, made life difficult for the defenders with his strong presence and good movement, and inadvertently set up Davis' goal, forcing a terrible mistake from Hart after showing up Clichy and blasting a shot from a tight angle. Also bagged another accidental assist when Barry put the striker's cross past Hart for the third goal. Was always involved in Southampton's biggest attacks and inspired the team to a famous victory.

• 
  10

  4

  4.00

  Jay Rodriguez

  Made life very difficult for Zabaleta, often cutting inside the defender and making several dangerous runs. Couldn't force an excellent early chance away but Puncheon followed up to score, and had another opportunity at 2-0 but fired wide. Had no joy from the referee when he felt he was fouled by Toure in the box, but had a good game despite not making the most of his chances.

Substitutions

• 
  6

  4

  3.00

  Frazer Richardson

  Came on for the injured Fox with 20 minutes to go, but the pace of the game was very slow and he had little to do despite City's late pressure, making challenges as required but not being hugely tested.

• 
  6

  4

  James Ward-Prowse

  The youngster was introduced for Davis late on but wasn't able to make a huge mark on the game as it petered out to the already-decided result, save for a fine challenge out wide in the final minute of normal time.

• 
  9

  4

  3.00

  Adam Lallana

  Replaced the dangerous Puncheon on the hour and provided a fresh threat for City's disappointing defence, linking up well with Rodriguez and Lambert and covering defensively when needed.

Manchester City

2.57

• 
  6

  28

  2.00

  Joe Hart

  Had little help from his defenders as Southampton took the lead through Puncheon, but he was definitely to blame for the second, completely fumbling Lambert's shot to allow Davis to come in and prod home. Helplessly watched Barry's own goal slide past him and his distribution was hit-and-miss. A day to forget for the England shot-stopper.

• 
  5

  16

  2.50

  Pablo Zabaleta

  Had trouble dealing with Southampton's early pushes forward, with Rodriguez drifting in between him and Garcia. Defensively, he struggled badly, but was much better going forward, and did superbly to set up Dzeko's goal in a sweeping move forward.

• 
  3

  19

  2.50

  Joleon Lescott

  Caught out by a couple of balls over the top early on, and City's centre-back pairing had Hart barking in their ears more than once. Did his best to lead the back line but they all had a bad day at the office, and he was replaced by Kolarov as City changed formation.

• 
  4

  19

  2.00

  Gael Clichy

  Found himself in no man's land when Puncheon dispossessed Barry and pressed forward for his goal, and was again shown up as Lambert cut inside in the build-up to Southampton's second. Booked in the second half for a silly challenge on Puncheon and, like his defensive team-mates, had a wretched evening.

• 
  3

  22

  3.00

  Samir Nasri

  The France international hasn't really set the world alight since he joined City, but he was showing more desire than many of his team-mates in the first half, although he couldn't produce anything that matched the effort and was substituted early in the second half.

• 
  2

  21

  1.50

  Javi García Flop of the Match

  Again shifted back into defence in the absence of Kompany but, like Lescott, looked very shaky as Southampton played several balls in behind looking for Rodriguez and Lambert. Caught out of position for the hosts' first goal; something which happened far too often as he regularly saw Lambert and co get in behind him.

• 
  2

  30

  2.50

  Gareth Barry

  Partially at fault for the opening goal, conceding possession in the build-up to Puncheon's strike, and was given little time in the first half as Southampton pressed well, before scoring the hosts' third goal, diverting it past Hart under absolutely no pressure as he tried to cut out a cross.

• 
  2

  18

  2.50

  David Silva

  Strangely quiet as City struggled to get motoring and wasn't as accurate with his passing, but played a delightful chip to Zabaleta in the build-up to Dzeko's goal. Overall, though, it didn't rank amongst his better performances and he was taken off with just under 20 minutes left.

• 
  2

  22

  2.50

  Yaya Touré

  Made a welcome return to City's midfield after being away on Africa Cup of Nations duty and had to help out defensively more than once, but had trouble orchestrating things in possession, wasting a chance from a free kick with a poor long shot in the second half. Perhaps fortunate not to concede a penalty in first-half stoppage time with a clumsy challenge on Rodriguez.

• 
  13

  16

  3.00

  Edin Dzeko

  Largely anonymous in the first half as Southampton looked disciplined at the back, with Yoshida and Hooiveld working hard to shut out any opportunities, but orchestrated a superb counterattack to bring the visitors back into the game, albeit with an unorthodox finish. Looked threatening when he had the ball, but that happened too rarely.

• 
  4

  21

  3.00

  Sergio Agüero

  Nearly drew City level after Puncheon's strike with an excellent long-range effort, and looked like the visitors' best route back into the match during the first half. Wasted a great chance from a free kick, driving into the wall and forced a good stop from Boruc in the second half with a left-footed effort.

Substitutions

• 
  2

  18

  3.00

  Maicon

  Introduced in place of Silva with just under 20 minutes to go and provided a threat as City looked to get back in the game, whipping in a couple of crosses and nearly getting on the end of one from Kolarov.

• 
  3

  15

  3.00

  Aleksandar Kolarov

  Came on for Lescott with 25 minutes remaining as City changed formation to try and get back in the game, and worked hard to push down the left, nearly setting up a chance for Maicon.

• 
  3

  16

  3.00

  James Milner

  Replaced Nasri early in the second half and had a chance straight away, seeing a shot deflected wide. Southampton managed to keep the ball well, however, and Milner couldn't do too much.