Cyle Larin scored twice as Southampton beat Bristol City 4-1 at St Mary's on Saturday, ending the Robins' run of four games unbeaten in the Championship. Lorent Tolaj had pulled a goal back for the visitors, but two further goals in the closing stages settled the contest firmly in the home side's favour.
Larin opened the scoring in the 38th minute, converting a Finn Azaz assist, before adding a second in the 61st minute to put Southampton in command. Tolaj gave Bristol City hope four minutes later, turning home a low cross from Rio Cardines to make it 2-1. Southampton restored their two-goal cushion through Kuryu Matsuki in the 82nd minute, again teed up by Azaz, and the winger completed the scoring himself three minutes later with an assist from Divin Mubama.
The result halts what had been Bristol City's best run of the season. Liam Manning's side had won three straight matches heading into the fixture, beating Preston North End 3-0 the previous Tuesday and edging Burnley 1-0 the weekend before, when Yu Hirakawa's stoppage-time strike settled a tight game at Turf Moor. Southampton, for their part, had come into the match on the back of a 3-1 win over Swansea City, and despite carrying a points deduction that has hurt their league position, they showed enough quality to overturn Bristol City's three-place advantage in the table before kick-off.
Bristol City set out ahead of the match without Luke McNally, a long-term absentee, while deadline-day arrival Brian De Keersmaecker was again short of match fitness and unavailable for selection. Sam Tickle, signed in the summer as the club's new number one, started in goal behind a back four of Rio Cardines, Rob Dickie, Lisav Eissat and Cam Pring, with George Tanner in reserve at left-back. Bristol Live's preview of the fixture had predicted Joe Williams to return to midfield after a rest, with Adam Randell as his deputy, while Scott Twine took the number ten role behind Jed Wallace, Hirakawa and Tolaj in a 4-2-3-1 shape.
Bristol City remain seventh in the Championship on 10 points from five games, sitting four points behind leaders West Ham, having now scored nine goals and conceded seven this season. Their recent form reads three wins, one draw and one loss from the last five outings. The heavier defensive workload against Southampton will sharpen focus on the back line.
Attention now turns to Tuesday's home meeting with Lincoln City, who sit 19th in the table, on 15 September. Manning will be hoping his side can shake off the Southampton setback quickly.
