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Southampton not 'wishing away' remaining fixtures ahead of Man City clash

Southampton not 'wishing away' remaining fixtures ahead of Man City clash

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Manchester City visit relegated Southampton, with Pep Guardiola's men playing for Champions League football and the hosts playing for pride.

Taylor Harwood-Bellis would not "wish away" Southampton's final three matches of a torrid season, as they bid to avoid an unwanted place in the Premier League record books.

With home games against Manchester City and Arsenal – as well as a trip to Everton for the last-ever match at Goodison Park – to come, Southampton are marooned on 11 points.

They are guaranteed to finish bottom of the Premier League for a record-equalling third time, tying Sunderland, and still need one point to avoid matching Derby County for the fewest ever collected in a season, with the Rams famously managing 11 in 2007-08.

Harwood-Bellis will face his former club on Saturday, with City desperate for the points as they seek to secure a top-five finish and Champions League football.

And despite Southampton's fate being sealed long ago, he believes Simon Rusk's team will continue to give it their all.

"It's not a situation that's enjoyable. It's hard. I don't think anyone can say that it's not hurting us or anything like that," Harwood-Bellis told The Daily Echo. 

"Out there and in the dressing room it's probably the worst I've felt. I can see it on the boys' faces. It's not a nice feeling to have.

"You're playing in the Premier League, and you've got three games left. It's not something that I'm wishing away or wanting to get over and done with. 

"We're going to play against Man City and Arsenal. They're games that you want to play as a kid."

City recorded a crucial 1-0 win over Wolves last week, with Jeremy Doku supplying his Belgium team-mate Kevin De Bruyne for the only goal.

After Arsenal, Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest dropped points on matchday 35, Pep Guardiola's men are strong favourites for a top-five finish and are only three points off the Gunners in second.

Doku, meanwhile, is hoping to add more goal involvements between now and the end of the campaign, as well as lifting the FA Cup for the first time.

"I know I got an assist, but I think I can do even more," the winger said, reflecting on the Wolves win.

"Obviously, we can't win the Premier League anymore, but we want to try to win every game now and see where we end up. We have a final in the FA Cup. So, game by game, but we are going to prepare well for that as well."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Southampton – Aaron Ramsdale

Southampton have conceded 82 Premier League goals this season. Only three times have they conceded more in a single league campaign in their history – 85 in 1952-53, 92 in 1966-67 and 83 in 1967-68.

Ramsdale will likely have his work cut out at St Mary's.

Manchester City – Jeremy Doku

Doku has completed more dribbles than any other player in the Premier League this season (102), while he also has the highest dribble success rate of anyone to attempt at least 60 (61.5%).

He could have a key role to play in a game City will dominate, and his compatriot De Bruyne will hope to be the recipient of another assist.

Against no side has De Bruyne been directly involved in more Premier League goals than he has against Southampton (14 – four goals, 10 assists). 

MATCH PREDICTION – MANCHESTER CITY WIN

City have won their last four Premier League games, their joint-longest run of the season. 

Guardiola's team are looking to win back-to-back away league games for the first time since August, and they are huge favourites to do so against a historically poor Southampton side.

Southampton have lost 28 Premier League games this season, and another defeat here would equal the highest number of losses in a 20-team top-flight campaign (alongside Sunderland in 2005-06, Derby in 2007-08 and Sheffield United in 2020-21).

City, meanwhile, are unbeaten in their last 29 Premier League games against sides starting the day bottom of the table (W24 D5) since a 2-1 loss at West Brom in December 2008. The Citizens have won their last 12 in a row by an aggregate score of 44-1.

And even if Southampton manage to get ahead, they have dropped more points from winning positions than any other team in the Premier League this season (28). 

If they lead but fail to win this match, it will be the first time they have lost 30 or more points after going ahead in a single campaign in the competition.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Southampton – 11%

Manchester City – 73.9%

Draw – 15.1%

Southampton not 'wishing away' remaining fixtures ahead of Man City clash

Manchester City visit relegated Southampton, with Pep Guardiola's men playing for Champions League football and the hosts playing for pride.

Taylor Harwood-Bellis would not "wish away" Southampton's final three matches of a torrid season, as they bid to avoid an unwanted place in the Premier League record books.

With home games against Manchester City and Arsenal – as well as a trip to Everton for the last-ever match at Goodison Park – to come, Southampton are marooned on 11 points.

They are guaranteed to finish bottom of the Premier League for a record-equalling third time, tying Sunderland, and still need one point to avoid matching Derby County for the fewest ever collected in a season, with the Rams famously managing 11 in 2007-08.

Harwood-Bellis will face his former club on Saturday, with City desperate for the points as they seek to secure a top-five finish and Champions League football.

And despite Southampton's fate being sealed long ago, he believes Simon Rusk's team will continue to give it their all.

"It's not a situation that's enjoyable. It's hard. I don't think anyone can say that it's not hurting us or anything like that," Harwood-Bellis told The Daily Echo. 

"Out there and in the dressing room it's probably the worst I've felt. I can see it on the boys' faces. It's not a nice feeling to have.

"You're playing in the Premier League, and you've got three games left. It's not something that I'm wishing away or wanting to get over and done with. 

"We're going to play against Man City and Arsenal. They're games that you want to play as a kid."

City recorded a crucial 1-0 win over Wolves last week, with Jeremy Doku supplying his Belgium team-mate Kevin De Bruyne for the only goal.

After Arsenal, Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest dropped points on matchday 35, Pep Guardiola's men are strong favourites for a top-five finish and are only three points off the Gunners in second.

Doku, meanwhile, is hoping to add more goal involvements between now and the end of the campaign, as well as lifting the FA Cup for the first time.

"I know I got an assist, but I think I can do even more," the winger said, reflecting on the Wolves win.

"Obviously, we can't win the Premier League anymore, but we want to try to win every game now and see where we end up. We have a final in the FA Cup. So, game by game, but we are going to prepare well for that as well."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Southampton – Aaron Ramsdale

Southampton have conceded 82 Premier League goals this season. Only three times have they conceded more in a single league campaign in their history – 85 in 1952-53, 92 in 1966-67 and 83 in 1967-68.

Ramsdale will likely have his work cut out at St Mary's.

Manchester City – Jeremy Doku

Doku has completed more dribbles than any other player in the Premier League this season (102), while he also has the highest dribble success rate of anyone to attempt at least 60 (61.5%).

He could have a key role to play in a game City will dominate, and his compatriot De Bruyne will hope to be the recipient of another assist.

Against no side has De Bruyne been directly involved in more Premier League goals than he has against Southampton (14 – four goals, 10 assists). 

MATCH PREDICTION – MANCHESTER CITY WIN

City have won their last four Premier League games, their joint-longest run of the season. 

Guardiola's team are looking to win back-to-back away league games for the first time since August, and they are huge favourites to do so against a historically poor Southampton side.

Southampton have lost 28 Premier League games this season, and another defeat here would equal the highest number of losses in a 20-team top-flight campaign (alongside Sunderland in 2005-06, Derby in 2007-08 and Sheffield United in 2020-21).

City, meanwhile, are unbeaten in their last 29 Premier League games against sides starting the day bottom of the table (W24 D5) since a 2-1 loss at West Brom in December 2008. The Citizens have won their last 12 in a row by an aggregate score of 44-1.

And even if Southampton manage to get ahead, they have dropped more points from winning positions than any other team in the Premier League this season (28). 

If they lead but fail to win this match, it will be the first time they have lost 30 or more points after going ahead in a single campaign in the competition.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Southampton – 11%

Manchester City – 73.9%

Draw – 15.1%

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