Southampton_FC.jpg vs 200px-Manchester_City.svg.jpg
Sunday 30 November 2014
St. Mary's Stadium
Kick-off 13:30
Sunday 30 November 2014
St. Mary's Stadium
Kick-off 13:30
Match preview
Ronald Koeman wants Southampton to prove they are capable of achieving "something special" this season by beating Manchester City on Sunday.
The south-coast club are second in the Barclays Premier League after winning eight of their first 12 matches and suffering only two defeats in a sensational start under Koeman.
Southampton had been tipped for a season of struggle after losing a host of key players, who followed manager Mauricio Pochettino through the St Mary's Stadium exit door, but Koeman has set his sights on securing a UEFA Champions League spot in his first season in English football.
The Dutchman knows the visit of champions Manchester City will be a major test for Southampton but the former Netherlands defender is backing his side to rise to the challenge.
"We realise that this Sunday we play against one of the teams who can win the title," said Koeman.
"We've shown before that it's not easy to beat Southampton and we'll show that on Sunday.
"If we want to do something special this season, then we have to win these types of games. They have a strong squad and good players. In the last few weeks [Sergio] Aguero has made the difference. Manchester City will take this game seriously. They know that we are strong and that they'll have to be good to beat us."
City will go above Southampton into second spot if they consign Koeman's men to a first home defeat of the season.
Manuel Pellegrini's side head into the contest on the back of a dramatic 3-2 UEFA Champions League win over Bayern Munich in midweek, which kept their hopes of qualifying for the last 16 alive.
Southampton's impressive start to the season has led to them being described as a surprise package, but City boss Pellegrini's eyebrows have not been raised by their impressive form.
"Southampton are a good team with very good players and they're playing very well," Pellegrini said.
"It's no surprise they are where they are.
"Koeman has lost four or five players but they are still a good team and that's a merit to him. It will be a tough game."
Southampton have conceded only one goal at St Mary's this season - against QPR in September - but they will have to be at their best to keep in-form striker Aguero quiet. The Argentina forward scored a hat-trick against European champions Bayern and has 18 goals to his name already this season.
City will be without Edin Dzeko (thigh), David Silva (knee) and Aleksandar Kolarov (calf), but Yaya Toure and Fernandinho are back in the squad after missing the win over Bayern due to suspension.
Southampton midfielder Steven Davis is rated as doubtful due to a hamstring problem.
Southampton (from): K Davis, Forster, Gazzaniga, Alderweireld, Bertrand, Clyne, Fonte, Gardos, Targett, Yoshida, Cork, S Davis, Isgrove, Mane, McQueen, Reed, Schneiderlin, Tadic, Wanyama, Long, Mayuka, Pelle.
Manchester City (from): Caballero, Hart, Wright, Boyata, Clichy, Demichelis, Kompany, Mangala, Nastasic, Sagna, Zabaleta, Fernandinho, Fernando, Lampard, Milner, Nasri, Navas, Sinclair, Toure, Aguero, Jovetic.
Match Appointments
Referee: Mike Jones Assistants: R West, A Nunn Fourth Official: P Dowd
Match Facts
Southampton have won six and lost none of their last eight Barclays Premier League home matches, conceding just two goals in total in this run, while Manchester City have scored in all six of their BPL away fixtures this season.
Man City have hit the most shots on target this season (76), Southampton have allowed the fewest on their goal (25).