'Ball to the feet, not the teeth' - Guardiola lauds Saints effort but City stay top

Pep Guardiola said he can learn from the way Russell Martin’s bottom-placed side made life hard for Man City

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola and Southampton manager Russell Martin, left, on the touchline (Martin Rickett/PA)

Pep Guardiola praised winless Southampton and said he can learn from the way Russell Martin’s bottom-placed side made life hard in Manchester City’s narrow victory.

Having failed to win a single Premier League match since promotion and last week suffering added-time heartbreak against Leicester, it felt like a case of how many the hosts would win by on Saturday.