Man City battle back, down Southampton 3-2

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It was deja vu for Manchester City and their breathless fans on Sunday as they began the defence of their Premier League title. Man City, beginning their new season the way they finished off the last one, needing to come from behind late. This time, it was promoted Southampton standing in their way.

The game started badly for City when their top scorer last season Sergio Aguero, who netted the dramatic late winner as they beat Queens Park Rangers 3-2 to win the title in May, was carried off with a knee injury early on.

A tired-looking David Silva then had a woefully weak penalty saved before Carlos Tevez avoided the offside flag to score at the near post in the 40th minute to put city up 1-nil.

City’s defence allowed promoted Southampton to go in front after carbon copy sidefoot finishes in the 59th and 69th minutes from substitutes Ricky Lambert and Steven Davis made it 2-1.

And then, with City needing to pull it out late...they found a familiar boost in the form of Edin Dzeko. Dzeko, just like he had done against QPR three months ago, grabbed City’s equaliser in the 72nd minute.

And then, Samir Nasri struck again in the 80th-minute as City came back to down Southampton 3-2.