The Saints moved to 12 points this season, one above Derby County’s all-time lowest of 11
Southampton have ensured that while heading downwards to the Championship they will avoid the unwanted record of worst team in Premier League history.
The Saints stunned Manchester City with a defiant 0-0 draw at St Mary’s on Saturday, lifting themselves off 11 points for the season, just enough to avoid matching Derby County’s infamous Premier League low from 2007-08.
The result gave the home fans something to celebrate, with a point that means their team, while still bottom and already relegated, won’t go down in history for all the wrong reasons.
Manchester City, meanwhile, will be frustrated to have dropped points in a game they completely dominated. Pep Guardiola’s side managed 26 shots, compared to just two from Southampton, but lacked the final touch needed to break through.
Erling Haaland returned to the starting lineup after a six-week injury layoff, but even with the Norwegian back in action City couldn’t find the net.
The away side’s best chance came in stoppage time when Omar Marmoush struck the underside of the bar with a thunderous effort, the closest the visitors came to spoiling Southampton’s party.
City still sit third in the table with 65 points, but Newcastle, Chelsea and Nottingham Forest are all close behind with a game in hand, which means that City’s grip on a Champions League place is far from secure. However, Newcastle and Chelsea play each other so they are certain to drop points this week.
For Southampton, the point may not change their fate, but it was a rare moment of pride in an absolutely dismal campaign.
The Saints made it clear before the game that they would work as hard as they could to avoid the looming grim record, and they succeeded in front of their fans by digging deep and defending with everything they had.
