A stubborn Southampton forced Manchester City to a goalless draw on Saturday St. Mary’s.
The draw moves the already relegated Southampton past the Premier League record low mark of 11 points.
Southampton have won just one of their last 16 Premier League games against Manchester City
Southampton were relegated in early April and sacked Ivan Juric, their second manager this season, 24 hours later.
They had taken one point at home since November before this match and few would have held hope of taking anything from a City side who had appeared to have found some form.
Interim boss Simon Rusk urged his side to end the season with “as much dignity as possible” and this point at least leaves them as just one of the worst sides in Premier League history.
With games against Everton and Arsenal to come, there is a chance for more pride to be restored.
No Saints player made a tackle until the 18th minute as the visitors were allowed possession and Saints won just 35 of 80 duels.
City were 13 points behind Arsenal on 1 April – but could, and should, have moved level with Mikel Arteta’s side with a win in the sunshine of Southampton.
Talisman Haaland was back to lead the line after seven games out with an ankle injury but the Norwegian only managed one shot on goal – a header off target in the 91st minute.
The struggles were not his alone. City looked unable to break down a Southampton side which had shipped 82 goals in the league this season and only really threatened in the dying stages.
City have now failed to score in four of their past 11 Premier League games, as many blanks as in their previous 55 in the competition.
How damaging this result is to their hopes of Champions League football next season will be clearer at the end of the weekend.
