Southampton officially steered clear of being labelled the worst Premier League side in history after grinding out a goalless draw against Manchester City on Saturday.
The result lifts the Saints to 12 points for the season, one more than Derby County’s infamous 11-point tally in the 2007/08 campaign, thus sparing themselves from entering the record books for all the wrong reasons.
Ironically, their moment of statistical salvation came against reigning champions Manchester City, who looked far from their usual selves at St Mary’s.
City’s inability to break down the hosts now puts a serious dent in their pursuit of a top-four finish, leaving them vulnerable in a tightly contested race.
The match was largely uneventful. City dominated possession but lacked their usual sharpness in the final third.
Southampton, meanwhile, showed discipline, with bodies on the line throughout the second half.
The biggest flashpoint came late in the first half when Lesley Ugochukwu, already booked, escaped a second yellow card, a decision that left City players incensed.
Omar Marmoush came closest to snatching a late winner for the hosts, rattling the crossbar deep into injury time, but neither side found a breakthrough.
For Southampton, it’s a small triumph in a dismal season. For Pep Guardiola’s side, it’s two points dropped at a critical juncture.
