Southampton avoid dubious record with City draw, Villa down Bournemouth

Manchester City were held to a shock goalless draw by Premier League basement club Southampton on Saturday while Aston Villa beat Bournemouth as the race for Champions League places hots up.

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Pep Guardiola’s dethroned champions were expected to waltz to three points on England's south coast and pull level with second-placed Arsenal on 67 points.

But although the FA Cup finalists dominated possession and had 26 shots, they could not break their opponents down, despite the return of top-scorer Erling Haaland.

Third-placed City, who play Crystal Palace in next week's FA Cup final, remain well-placed to finish in the top five, which would secure qualification for the Champions League next season.

But Villa, in sixth spot, are now just two points behind them, on 63 points after their I-O win at Bournemouth.

"(Southampton were) playing to defend and defend and defend and waste time," Guardiola told the BBC. "We take that point still, it’s in our hands.

"Didn't expect them to defend so deep. Defensively we were so good but unfortunately we missed the last actions."

Guardiola also admitted this season has been the toughest of his 16-year managerial career.

The Spaniard has experienced little but success in glittering spells at Barcelona, Bayern Munich and City.

But after four successive Premier League triumphs, City’s form nosedived from late October onwards.