Kompany hails City character

20 August 2012 20:48

Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany has hailed his side's team spirit after they came from behind to beat Southampton on Sunday.

The reigning Premier League champions took the lead themselves five minutes before the break through Carlos Tevez, but two goals in quick succession from Rickie Lambert and Steven Davis saw Nigel Adkins' side to the lead, before Edin Dzeko and Samir Nasri sealed the three points.

The Belgium international reminded any doubters of City’s unbeaten home record last season, while insisted that the comeback win was another example of the same fight and determination that helped win them the league last term.

"We have always proved to be very difficult to beat at home," the centre-back told City TV. "Maybe we will just get belief out of this. Maybe that is why we always keep coming back and it never seems to be finished.

"I don't even need to say it loudly. Last season proved how crucial it (team spirit) was for us, in the last games. We showed we wanted it as much. It doesn't matter if we have our best game or our worst game, we just keep going.

"As much as I can say we have a lot to improve on still, I can also say we can really all be happy because of great qualities of character.''

Though City ended the match with the maximum points on offer, they made it hard for themselves; David Silva saw his penalty saved by Kelvin Davis with the score at 0-0, before they missed multiple chances to allow Southampton back into the game.

The 26-year-old Kompany acknowledged that they should have taken their chances early on in the match, but applauded the newly promoted outfit for making it a difficult day for his side.

Kompany added: "If everything had gone to plan we would have scored two or three goals before they even got their first. We missed a few chances and they used the one opportunity they had very well and the game became very difficult, but I am very happy about the reaction of the team.

"That is what we needed to see. Therefore we are very happy with the win and the result. We have to respect Southampton, they played really well. It is a good result for us.''

Mancini notes City flaws

19 August 2012 20:41

Roberto Mancini has called for improvement from his Manchester City side after they battled to a 3-2 win over Southampton.

The Premier League champions looked to be in control following Carlos Tevez's opener, but goals from substitutes Rickie Lambert and Steven Davis in the second half gave the Etihad Stadium faithful a fright before Edin Dzeko and Samir Nasri earned City the three points.

City missed a number of chances to kill the game off earlier, most notably when David Silva saw a tame penalty saved by Kelvin Davis.

While Mancini was happy with the result, he insisted his side must be able to kill games off earlier if their title defence is to gather momentum.

"It's important we won the first game, it's always difficult," he told Sky Sports after the match.

"It's important to show character but it's better to close the game before, we had so many chances and when you don't close the game it can hurt you."

City earned crucial points last season on the back of some memorable come-backs, most notably in their 3-3 draw at home to Sunderland and their dramatic 3-2 win against Queens Park Rangers on the final day of the season.

And after watching his side come from behind to defeat Chelsea in the Community Shield a week ago, Mancini stressed that he hopes to avoid chasing results late on in games.

"It's not normal what happened last year, this happened two or three times," he said.

"I think today because it's the first game, we only worked for two weeks together, but we need to improve."

City's victory was tarnished by an injury to Sergio Aguero, who had to be stretchered off with a knee injury after just eight minutes and is set to undergo an MRI scan to ascertain the extent of the damage.

Mancini had no update on the striker's condition immediately after Sunday's match.

Speaking after the brave loss, Southampton manager Nigel Adkins said he was happy with his team's display against the champions.

"We've come away from home to take on the champions and we tried to find a way we could win this game," he said.

"That's what we tried to do and our defence have just faced the best forward line they've ever come up against and they didn't do too badly.

"City conceded only 12 goals at home last season and we've just scored twice. They only dropped two points at home and we pushed them hard today, so our lads can take a lot from this game.

"We scored two goals, Rickie Lambert, fantastic goal from him, it's a dream for him.

"For Rickie to come off the bench and score and then for Steven Davis to come off the bench, we've brought him in, he's been injured and for him to come off and score was really great.

"And what a great debut for James Ward-Prowse. The vision of the club is to get 50 percent of the youngsters through the academy and I think everyone at our academy should be so proud that at 17, young James made his debut today, I thought he was outstanding."

Premier League: Manchester City 3 Southampton 2

19 August 2012 19:33

Manchester City started their Premier League defence with a dramatic 3-2 victory over Southampton at Etihad Stadium.

Carlos Tevez gave the hosts a first-half lead, although City manager Roberto Mancini had been dealt an early blow when Sergio Aguero left the game on a stretcher with a knee injury.

Southampton had been largely confined to their own half before they stunned the hosts by racing in to a 2-1 lead in the second half courtesy of goals from substitutes Rickie Lambert and Steven Davis.

But Edin Dzeko quickly grabbed an equaliser and Samir Nasri, the architect of much of City's best play, completed the comeback with 10 minutes to play.

Nasri was instrumental from the outset, flicking David Silva's pass into the path of Tevez, who spun past centre-back Jos Hooiveld in the penalty box and was tripped by the Dutch defender's outstretched leg, leaving Howard Webb no choice but to point to the spot.

With Aguero withdrawn and other regular takers Mario Balotelli and James Milner on the bench, Silva had the chance to send City in front but his penalty was poorly struck and gave Kelvin Davis an easy save.

Davis then saved comfortably when Tevez found enough space to toe-poke an effort from 18 yards towards goal.

Tevez was not kept at bay for much longer as Nasri, allowed too much time and space in the visitors' half, picked out the Argentine who ran on to a chipped pass and blasted past Davis at the near post.

The game was almost put to bed shortly after the restart when Nasri crossed to substitute Dzeko, but the Bosnian failed to get proper contact on the ball from point-blank range.

Gael Clichy came even closer to goal minutes later when he latched on to Yaya Toure's superb pass, but the left-back sent a first-time volley over the crossbar.

The game change when Lambert came on and made an instant impact, steering home a precise shot from the edge of the box after Clichy had blocked the ball back on to his path.

Davis then sent the visiting fans in to delirium when the former Rangers midfielder took advantage of Adam Lallana's lay-off to find the bottom corner with another fine finish.

City responded when Vincent Kompany returned Nasri's corner to the penalty area with a low shot and after Mario Balotelli had scrapped for the ball it fell for Dzeko to slam home.

Balotelli then failed to convert a sublime low cross from Nasri as City searched for another dramatic third goal before Dzeko glanced a header narrowly wide.

The winner came when Southampton defender Danny Fox headed a clearance directly in to the path of Nasri, with the Frenchman making no mistake from close range.

Survival on Lallana´s mind

19 August 2012 13:30

Southampton midfielder Adam Lallana said survival is the most important objective for the newly promoted south coast side this season.

The Saints are back in the Premier League after a three-year absence, and the 24-year-old attacking midfielder is desperate to ensure his side are still there come next off-season.

"Survival is our first and main objective," he told the Daily Mail.

"Anything beyond that in the first season is a bonus."

However, there won't be an easy welcome to the 2012-13 season for Lallana and his team-mates, as they face title holders Manchester City away on Sunday.

Lallana praised his upcoming opponents.

"They've got a great home record, and they've got two or three brilliant players in every position," he said.

"The way they won the title was amazing. It's their first match defending it. It doesn't get any better for them - and we must be doing something right to be there playing them."

The midfielder said despite the excitement of competing in the Premier League, the players are only focusing on the next game: "We haven't spoken about anything specific beyond City."

The Southampton youth academy graduate is also looking forward to the potential signing of Bologna's Gaston Ramirez for 11.8 million pounds, a deal that will surely excite Saints fans.

"This is someone who's been linked to Spurs and Liverpool and to see that he might be coming here instead, it shows we're serious," he said.

Lallana will be desperate to preserve Southampton's top flight status, as he has experienced tough times in the red and white stripes of Southampton in the past. He recalls the devastation of relegation from the Championship to League One in 2009, with the addition of a 10-point penalty following financial troubles.

"That's got to be a low point," he said.

"That summer we didn't even know if the club would exist to begin the next season. There was a month when we didn't get paid. We were all wondering about our futures."

Premier League preview: Manchester City v Southampton

17 August 2012 15:31

Newly promoted Southampton face the daunting task of taking on Premier League champions Manchester City on Sunday.

Southampton followed in the footsteps of Norwich to secure back-to-back promotions but Nigel Adkins' men will be in no doubt as to the step up in quality when they tackle Roberto Mancini's side at Etihad Stadium.

In their first taste of top-flight football since 2005, Southampton will have their work cut out in the opening four weeks with fixtures against last season's top three - City, Manchester United and Arsenal - as well as Wigan.

Last year's leading scorer in the Championship, Rickie Lambert, will be challenged with another step up in class and will need all the support he can get from livewire Adam Lallana and signings Jay Rodriguez and Steve Davis.

English winger Rodriguez made the move from Burnley for a club-record fee of seven million pounds while former Rangers' captain Davis will provide much needed steel in the midfield department.

This clash looms as the biggest mismatch on the opening weekend of fixtures despite City's uncharacteristic lack of activity in the transfer market.

The champions had not added to their squad until Sunday when the capture of young Everton midfielder Jack Rodwell for 12 million pounds was announced.

Mancini voiced his frustrations at the club's lack of activity but refused to expand on his irritations with City the only Premier League club without a signing until Rodwell's transfer.

Still, a fully fit Carlos Tevez will provide a huge boost to City while the enigmatic Mario Balotelli has remained with the club after a stellar Euro 2012 campaign with finalist Italy.

In their final match before the season proper, City looked fluid as they picked up the Community Shield with a 3-2 defeat of Chelsea on Saturday.

Southampton, in a rather ominous result, were comprehensively outplayed at St Mary's in a 4-0 defeat in their final warm-up match against Italian side Udinese.

Champions to host Saints in opening round

18 June 2012 12:42

English Premier League champions Manchester City will open the 2012/13 season at home to newly promoted Southampton.

The fixtures for the upcoming season were released on Tuesday, and pitted Nigel Adkins' Championship winners against a City side who claimed the Premier League crown on the final day of the season in dramatic circumstances.

Runners-up Manchester United face a tricky trip to Goodison Park to face Everton in their season opener, while Champions League winners Chelsea travel to Wigan Athletic.

West Ham United and Reading celebrate their return to the English top-flight with home matches against Aston Villa and Stoke City respectively, while Brendan Rodgers' Liverpool will be the visitors at The Hawthorns to take on West Bromwich Albion.

Also on the opening weekend, Arsenal host Sunderland and Newcastle United welcome Tottenham, while Norwich City and Swansea City visit Fulham and Queens Park Rangers respectively.

Northeast rivals Sunderland and Newcastle will do battle on October 20, while the first Merseyside derby of the season between Liverpool and Everton will be played at Goodison Park on October 27.

Arsenal's Emirates Stadium will be the venue for the first battle of north London when Tottenham are the visitors on November 17.

The two Manchester derbies are scheduled for Etihad Stadium (December 8) and Old Trafford (April 6), with the latter placed tantalisingly close to the end of the season.

On the final day of the season, Manchester City are at home to Norwich while rivals Manchester United go to West Bromwich Albion.

Chelsea will battle Everton at Stamford Bridge and Newcastle United host Arsenal in the other notable clashes on the last day.