Southampton manager Nathan Jones recorded one of the biggest wins of his short tenure when they deservedly beat favorites Manchester City in the semi-finals of the EFL Cup.
Jones has struggled for approval from Saints fans since his arrival from Luton Town but his ratings have certainly been boosted by the manner in which the Premier League strugglers have maintained their good cup form.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola rested key players such as Erling Holland and Kevin De Bruyne ahead of this weekend’s derby with Manchester United at Old Trafford, but nothing took away from Southampton’s dynamic display. Should.
The game was decided after 23 minutes in the first half by a crisp finish from Siko Mara and a superb second from Moussa Genipou five minutes later when he caught City keeper Stefan Ortega badly off his line with a long-range finish. .
Guardiola threw on De Bruyne and Holland after the break but it was to no avail as Southampton defended their lead strongly to reach the last four, where they will face Newcastle.
Is Jones turning the tide?
The empty seats for the Cup quarter-final at home to Manchester City gave an indication of the mood at St Mary’s. . This is a wonderful win.
In terms of taking Saints out of the relegation zone and winning over the doubters, Jones still has a lot of work to do, but it will give him and his players the strength to do well at every level.
And with Croatia international Mislav Orsic, fresh from the World Cup, making a late debut as a substitute following his arrival from Dinamo Zagreb, and talented midfielder Carlos Alcaraz completing his move from Racing Club in Argentina. After the parade on the pitch, things suddenly look brighter.
Jones has demanded aggression and intensity from Southampton and he got it here, particularly in the first half when a reshuffled City were overrun in midfield, while Mara and Genippo cut and pressed.
And for the manager, it’s a rhetorical victory against an elite opposition that will help those who are dissatisfied with his methods grow more confident.
Southampton now have a crucial Premier League game against fellow strugglers Everton at Goodison Park on Saturday and will travel to Merseyside confident of a strong performance in the match.
It got cold in Manchester City.
Manchester City arrived on the rain-affected south coast as hot favorites to progress to the last four of the EFL Cup against struggling Saints but the tables were turned as the languishing Premier League champions got what they deserved. A mediocre performance was deserved.
Guardiola may have made changes but the starting line-up still contains experience in the form of Kyle Walker, Emerick Laporte, Jack Grealish, Alke Gundogan, Joao Cancelo, Phil Foden and World Cup winner Julian Alvarez.
There was enough quality to do better than that and it was a particularly bad night for deputy keeper Ortega and Calvin Phillips, whose first starts were poor and at such a pace that when he was substituted he I was not surprised.
In his defence, he has been severely curtailed in first-team action but has done nothing here to suggest he will be forced on his way out of Guardiola’s midfield embarrassment of riches anytime soon.
Ortega was also hopelessly out of position for Digenepo’s goal, a crucial second that strengthened the Saints’ belief and gave City a deficit they could not claw back from.
The EFL Cup may not be top of mind for either Guardiola or City but this is a bitterly disappointing performance and result.
