Saints sink City as they face abyss

Manchester City 1 Southampton 3

Kevin Phillips’ second-half double condemned relegation-threatened Manchester City to another miserable defeat at Eastlands.

Southampton led through James Beattie at the break, but Phillips doubled the visitors’ lead with a far post header 10 minutes after the interval.

The former Sunderland striker then wrapped up victory for Paul Sturrock’s side with a magnificent breakaway goal after Nicolas Anelka’s 23rd goal of the campaign had briefly threatened a comeback for a City side who slumped to fourth bottom.