SOUTHAMPTON: Ma­n­­ch­ester City dropped to fourth in the Premier League after losing 4-2 at Southampton in Sunday’s late match as manager Manuel Pellegrini’s risk in playing a weakened team backfired.

Key players like Sergio Aguero, Kevin de Bruyne and Vincent Kompany were among those rested ahead of the second leg of the Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid on Wednesday.

And it showed as City, who drew 0-0 in the first leg against Real, were blown away by Senegal winner Sadio Mane’s second hat-trick of the season in a loose display at the St Mary’s Stadium.

“I’m very frustrated because I didn’t expect that performance, especially in defence,” Pellegrini said. “In this case we had to prioritise Wednesday’s game. The best way to prepare is to win but we couldn’t do it.”

Irish striker Shane Long scored Southam­pton’s opener in the 25th minute and Mane added the hosts’ second with a composed strike after a sweeping attack three minutes later.

City got one back in the 44th minute through a header from Nigerian striker Kelechi Ihean­acho.

However, Mane’s header restored Saints’ two-goal advantage in the 57th minute and he completed his treble 11 minutes later before Iheanacho netted again in the 78th minute.

In the tight race for fourth place and the final Champions League spot next season, City (64 poi­nts) remain four points ahead of Manchester United but their bitter rivals have a game in hand to close the gap. West Ham United are a point further back in sixth.

Published in Dawn, May 3rd , 2016