City’s away blues linger

Southampton 1 Manchester City 1

How else can you explain his dogged persistence in playing the same style away from home as at the Etihad, when statistics underline so boldly the error of his ways?

On paper, City’s 1-1 draw at Southampton on Saturday was not a bad result against the Premier League’s most improved side at a ground where many clubs will struggle this season. But put into the context of their overall away form it continues a worrying trend; especially as they face a daunting trip to Bayern Munich tomorrow.

At home in the domestic league, City have been unbeatable this season. They sit top of the ‘home form’ table with 21 points from seven games, having scored 29 goals and conceded only two. But on the road they have been anything but title contenders — 10th in the ‘away form’ table below Aston Villa, Newcastle and Swansea with only eight points from eight games — scoring 12 and conceding 13.

It was Groundhog Day at the weekend when Sergio Aguero put City ahead in a bright opening spell at St Mary’s only for Southampton, who quite frankly were the better side for large periods, to equalise with a wonderful goal from Dani Osvaldo and almost snatch victory in the second half.

The contrast between’s City home and away face is almost mind boggling; but Pellegrini’s post-match interview may provide an answer — revealing he asks his players to play in exactly the same style, with exactly the same tactics, on the road as they do at the Etihad.

It’s a worthy ambition; but is it based in reality?

“I think so,” he insisted. “Why? because a big team plays everywhere against other teams the same way. We are trying to be a great team.”

You can’t help but wonder if Pellegrini, new to the Premier League this year despite his vast experience in Spain, is attempting to run before he can walk. City may have spent hundreds of millions of euro on top-level players but it’s hard to think of a team in recent history that didn’t adjust its tactics to some extent when away from home.

Certainly on Saturday, City paid the price. They made a positive start — Aguero finishing superbly on the break as he turned home an excellent cross from Kolarov after 10 minutes — and they wasted two excellent chances to extend their lead. But their refusal to slow down play and consolidate their advantage gave Southampton an opportunity to take charge of the match from then on.

Osvaldo’s sumptuous individual goal after 42 minutes, turning past two players on the edge of the box despite being tightly marked and then lofting a stunning chip into the far top corner of the net, was no more than the Saints deserved — and if the Italian had been a little more clinical with two second-half opportunities, they would have ended the afternoon with three points.

City will claim, justifiably perhaps, that a point against Southampton is no disgrace; but the Saints — on the back of defeats to Arsenal and Chelsea — were without several key players, had inexperienced teenager Calum Chambers at right-back and reserve player Jack Cork in central midfield against Yaya Toure; so this was at the very least an opportunity missed.

Cork, in fact, produced an inspirational display against Toure — who was eventually substituted in the second half — and Southampton’s well-practised pressing game consistently forced City into mistakes, adding to concerns about their title potential.

In defence, too, there must be question marks; Vincent Kompany does not yet look fully fit, Demichelis remains unconvincing and Kolarov, like the rest of the team, looks far better in the opponent’s half than in his own.

When you consider City’s next two games are against Bayern in the Champions League (they need to win by three goals to top of the group) and Arsenal next Saturday at the Etihad, there is certainly potential for a very uncomfortable week ahead.

“At the moment I would consider our run as a better run,” captain Kompany said, attempting to put a more positive spin on City’s form. “If we win the next couple of games we would say we are having a very, very good run.

“There is so much to play every three days. One day you are on top of the world and three days later you are wondering if you are still going to make it. That’s what makes it exciting.

“I don’t know why our results are different away from home but you can only realise that other teams are going through the same. Chelsea lost this weekend, and at Newcastle too. At the moment Arsenal seems to be the only team that can get through it but there are no guarantees and we are playing them next. That is a massive game.”

SOUTHAMPTON: Gazzaniga 6, Chambers 7, Fonte 7, Lovren 8, Shaw 7, Cork 8, S. Davis 7 (Reed 90), Ward-Prowse 6, Lallana 8 (Ramirez 85), Rodriguez 7, Osvaldo 8 (Lambert 77).

MANCHESTER CITY: Pantilimon 6, Zabaleta 6, Kompany 5, Demichelis 5, Kolarov 6, Milner 5 (Garcia 62; 6), Yaya Toure 6 (Dzeko 79), Fernandinho 6, Nasri 6, Aguero 7, Negredo 6 (Navas 62; 6).

Attendance: 31,229.