Last updated on .From the section Football

Yaya Toure fired Manchester City ahead with his fifth goal of the season

Clinical City leapfrog Southampton into second

All three goals came in the second half

Saints suffer first home defeat of the season

Aguero wrongly booked for dive in 100th PL match

Manchester City moved above opponents Southampton into second place as three second-half goals cut Chelsea's Premier League lead to six points.

Sergio Aguero, in his 100th top-flight game, pulled the ball back for Yaya Toure to drill in a low strike.

City played the final 16 minutes with 10 men after Eliaquim Mangala saw red.

But Frank Lampard's strike and a close-range finish from Gael Clichy saw City clinch their third straight win as Saints suffered a first home defeat.

MOTD2 analysis of Southampton 0-3 Man City Jermaine Jenas: "Pellegrini thought 'if I can stop Ryan Bertrand, I will cut off a big source of Southampton's attacks'. He did that by picking Jesus Navas, but the reason the plan worked did not rely on his winger doing any defending." Read more: 'How Navas helped see off Saints'

Ronald Koeman's side, who had not lost in their last six matches, never looked like extending that unbeaten run against the defending champions.

City produced a professional display, restricting Southampton to few clear-cut opportunities and clinically taking their own, to take advantage of Chelsea's goalless draw at Sunderland on Saturday.

When the Premier League fixture list was released in the summer, few would have glanced at this match and marked it down as one between two teams potentially competing for Champions League qualification.

Southampton 0-3 Man City: Sergio Aguero never dives - Manuel Pellegrini

After a summer of upheaval, Koeman has rebuilt the south coast side on a strong foundation of defensive stability, with the Saints having conceded just six goals in their previous 12 top-flight matches.

But, after French holding midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin's injury forced a defensive reshuffle at half-time, they were picked apart by the visitors.

City striker Sergio Aguero, whose midweek hat-trick against Bayern Munich took him to 17 goals for this season, was expected to be the biggest threat to the home defence.

The Argentine did not add to his tally, instead turning provider for both Toure and Clichy, who poked in at the end for his first Blues goal.

However, Aguero should have been given the opportunity from the penalty spot on 10 minutes. The City talisman was scythed down by home skipper Jose Fonte's lunging tackle, but looked up to see referee Mike Jones showing a yellow card after the official decided he had dived.

Saints must learn from mistakes - Koeman

But in the end, that controversial decision did not matter.

Many observers warned that Southampton's credentials would be tested in a difficult run against City, Arsenal and Manchester United - and in this game they looked short of the quality needed to break into the top four.

Koeman's men grew in confidence after a nervous start and could have opened the scoring when Steven Davis's low shot forced Joe Hart into a superb save low down to his right.

Speculative shots from Toby Alderweireld and Dusan Tadic flew past Joe Hart's right-hand post shortly after the restart, but once Toure scored his fifth goal of the season there appeared to be little way back for Saints.

And so it proved - despite Mangala, who was booked in the first-half for a cynical tackle on Tadic, seeing red after clipping home substitute Shane Long.

City defender Eliaquim Mangala has found life difficult in the Premier League since a £32m summer move from Porto

Frank Lampard powered in his 174th Premier League goal, leaving him one behind fourth-placed Thierry Henry in the list of all-time top-flight scorers

Gael Clichy scored his first Premier League goal for Manchester City - in his 86th appearance. He hit one in 187 appearances for previous club Arsenal

Manuel Pellegrini was given a warning by referee Mike Jones in a frustrating first half for Manchester City

Line-ups

Match Stats

Live Text Line-ups Southampton 23 Forster

2 Clyne

6 José Fonte

17 Alderweireld

21 Bertrand

8 Davis Substituted for Mayuka at 82' minutes

12 Wanyama Booked at 7mins

4 Schneiderlin Substituted for Yoshida at 45' minutes

11 Tadic

19 Pellè

10 Mané Substituted for Long at 68' minutes Substitutes 1 Davis

3 Yoshida

5 Gardos

7 Long

24 Mayuka

28 Reed

33 Targett Man City 1 Hart

5 Zabaleta

4 Kompany Booked at 81mins

20 Mangala Booked at 74mins

22 Clichy

15 Navas Substituted for Demichelis at 76' minutes

25 Fernandinho

42 Y Touré

8 Nasri Substituted for Lampard at 65' minutes

35 Jovetic Substituted for Milner at 55' minutes

16 Agüero Booked at 9mins Substitutes 3 Sagna

6 Reges

7 Milner

13 Caballero

18 Lampard

26 Demichelis

78 Pozo Referee : Mike Jones Attendance : 30,919 Match Stats Live Text Post update Match ends, Southampton 0, Manchester City 3. Full Time Second Half ends, Southampton 0, Manchester City 3. Post update Offside, Southampton. Ryan Bertrand tries a through ball, but Dusan Tadic is caught offside. Post update Offside, Southampton. Shane Long tries a through ball, but Dusan Tadic is caught offside. Post update Offside, Southampton. Toby Alderweireld tries a through ball, but Dusan Tadic is caught offside. Post update Attempt blocked. Toby Alderweireld (Southampton) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Victor Wanyama. Post update Foul by James Milner (Manchester City). Post update Jose Fonte (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Post update Delay over. They are ready to continue. Post update Vincent Kompany went off injured after Manchester City had used all subs. Post update Delay in match Vincent Kompany (Manchester City) because of an injury. goal Goal! Goal! Southampton 0, Manchester City 3. Gaël Clichy (Manchester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Sergio Agüero following a fast break. Post update Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Fernandinho. Post update Attempt saved. Victor Wanyama (Southampton) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Toby Alderweireld. Post update Attempt saved. Victor Wanyama (Southampton) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Emmanuel Mayuka. Post update Attempt saved. Sergio Agüero (Manchester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Gaël Clichy with a through ball. Post update Attempt missed. Victor Wanyama (Southampton) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left following a corner. Post update Corner, Southampton. Conceded by James Milner. Substitution Substitution, Southampton. Emmanuel Mayuka replaces Steven Davis. Booking Vincent Kompany (Manchester City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. Page 1 of 6 rewind previous Navigate to the next page next Navigate to the last page forward