A draw was fair, insists Pellegrini as City survive Southampton scare to snatch point

A draw was fair, insists Pellegrini as City survive Southampton scare to snatch point

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini insisted a point was a fair result despite seeing his side dominated by Southampton in the 1-1 draw at St Mary’s.
City have picked up just eight points from a possible 24 on the road this season, and have failed to win two on the bounce on their travels since last New Year.
Their struggles had not necessarily represented their performances away from home, but an uninspiring showing on the south coast resulted in just one point, a point too many on the balance of play.

Stunner: Dani Osvaldo scores with a delicate chip straight over Costel Pantilimon

No chance: The ball sailed over Pantilimon and into the top corner

Wonder strike: Osvaldo celebrates putting Southampton level at St Mary's

Pellegrini insists a draw was fair, but did not hide from the fact his side played poorly.
‘It felt for us that it was a good point, not that we lost two points,’ he said. ‘In the other games we played away I had that feeling. I think the draw was fair.
‘Southampton played very well, they had better possession of the ball. Our most important problem was losing the ball too easily.
‘Southampton have good players to keep it, and they tried to play. The first 25 minutes we played really well, I think that after that we lost too many balls and that was dangerous for us.’

Red hot form: Sergio Aguero (right) gives City an early lead at St Mary's

All smiles: Aguero (right) celebrates his goal with team-mates Samir Nasri (middle) and Vincent Kompany (right)

If Arsenal beat Everton on Sunday, Pellegrini’s side will find themselves eight points behind the leaders. Their away form from now until the end of the season, with several title-challengers still to play, will make or break their season.
But Pellegrini refused to be drawn on the wider picture of his side’s form on their travels.
‘When you don’t play well, and we didn’t play well today, just get something’ he added. ‘If you cannot win just don’t lose it.’
After three straight defeats, Southampton boss Mauricio Pochettino insists the recent form never reflected on his players because of their confidence in their style of play.

Watching on: Managers Manuel Pellegrini (left) and Mauricio Pochettino (right) observe from their technical areas

Big future: Luke Shaw (left) runs past Pablo Zabaleta down Southampton's left flank

Just wide: Aguero gets free of Jose Fonte but can't squeeze his shot in the far post

Saints lost to Aston Villa in midweek following losses in the capital to Arsenal and Chelsea, but the performance after Sergio Aguero’s opener pleased the Argentinian.
‘Overall the performance was amazing from my team, we’ve been on a negative form of late but the thing about this team is we keep on believing,’ he said.
‘We’re on a good run of playing well, this team believes in the way it plays.’