Manchester City Survive a Scare to Earn a 3-2 Win Over Southampton

Manchester City were forced to work hard by newly promoted Southampton as they eventually secured a 3-2 win thanks to goals from Carlos Tevez, Edin Dzeko and Samir Nasri.

Southampton had started the game well as Manchester City struggled to get in to the game, though there cause was not helped when Sergio Aguero was forced off just seven minutes in.

The Argentina international appeared to get his knee stuck in the turf after a challenge from Nathaniel Clyne and he was forced off, with Edin Dzeko the man brought on to replace him.

Despite City struggling to break down the Southampton backline, they did finally find the breakthrough just five minutes before half-time.

Nasri found space in the Southampton half and his ball through to Tevez led the striker to fire past Kelvin David at the near post.

It had looked as though City would break the deadlock after 15 minutes when a flick from Nasri found Tevez and the forward was brought down by Jos Hooiveld in the penalty area.

David Silva stepped up but his tame effort was easily saved by Kelvin Davis to keep the game level.

City continued to push forward in the second half as Silva hit the bar, but it was Southampton that scored the second goal of the goal as Rickie Lambert fired past Joe Hart.

The veteran forward is having his first taste of life in the Premier League and he made an instant impact as he came off the bench to fire in the equaliser.

Just five minutes after coming on the ball was bobbling on the edge of the area and it was Lambert who reacted quickest to curl the ball past a helpless Hart.

Southampton then took a surprise lead when they countered at pace from a Manchester City corner for Steven Davis to curl the ball home from just inside the box.

It was City's new signing Jack Rodwell who gave the ball away and Southampton broke away with the abll eventually arriving at the feet of Davis who had only come on for James Ward-Prowse minutes earlier.

However, the lead did not last long as Southampton failed to clear a corner and the ball fell to Dzeko who fired home an equaliser.

City then restored their lead as Southampton once again struggled from a corner and the ball this time fell to the right foot of Nasri who hit the ball into the ground and over a helpless Davis.

It was a crucial three points for Manchester City who will have wanted to lay down a marker after seeing Chelsea win earlier in the day, while Manchester United will play Everton on Monday night.