By admin 
Manchester Metropolis’s push to safe Champions League soccer for subsequent season suffered a massively shocking setback as they had been held to a 0-0 draw by relegated Southampton.
Metropolis had the prospect to maneuver into second place within the Premier League with a victory over the facet condemned to complete the season backside.
Nevertheless, they fluffed their strains regardless of the long-awaited return of Erling Haaland from an ankle damage, Southampton holding on to maintain their first clear sheet since December.
It means Metropolis miss an opportunity to go six factors away from sixth-placed Nottingham Forest within the race for the Champions League locations. The highest 5 will qualify for the Champions League, however Metropolis can be leapfrogged within the desk if there’s a winner in Sunday’s large recreation between Newcastle United and Chelsea at St James’ Park.
Southampton v Manchester Metropolis
Haaland was restored to the beginning XI as considered one of 5 adjustments made by Pep Guardiola from final week’s win over Wolves, however his facet struggled to make a lot of their predictable dominance of possession.
Their finest probability of the opening half got here when Kevin De Bruyne dipped a free-kick from the sting of the realm narrowly over the crossbar.
Alternatives weren’t readily forthcoming to begin the second half regardless of the introduction of Jeremy Doku on the left flank, although Southampton’s defending did change into more and more determined as Metropolis turned the screw of their quest for a decisive aim.
Haaland twice failed to attach with deliveries from Phil Foden because the Norwegian endured a irritating afternoon and, when Metropolis had been in a position to take a look at Aaron Ramsdale, they discovered the Southampton goalkeeper in fantastic type.
Ramsdale displayed nice reflexes to disclaim Manuel Akanji from De Bruyne’s ball in, earlier than Savinho and Nico O’Reilly every fluffed their strains with the aim gaping following Haaland’s sq. go.
Savinho and Ruben Dias had been thwarted by a double save from Ramsdale, with Marmoush the subsequent to expertise frustration as his poked effort was cleared in a scramble within the six-yard field.
The Egyptian was the person who went the closest to breaking Southampton’s spectacular resistance when he whipped an effort in opposition to the crossbar within the 91st minute with Ramsdale crushed, with luck for as soon as on Southampton’s facet as they stood agency to assert a degree meaning they surpass Derby County’s report for the fewest Premier League factors in a season.
Southampton now have 12 factors, another than Derby managed in 2007-08, nevertheless it’s a stalemate that would have a lot better penalties on the different finish of the desk in two weeks’ time.