City batter S'hampton
Sergio Aguero created two goals as champions Manchester City leapfrogged Southampton into second place in the Premier League table with a steely 3-0 victory at St Mary's on Sunday.
Yaya Toure drilled home Aguero's pass in the 51st minute and although City centre-back Eliaquim Mangala was then sent off, late goals by substitute Frank Lampard and Gael Clichy secured victory for the visitors.
Mangala was shown a second yellow card in the 74th minute after barging over Shane Long, but Lampard and Clichy's strikes safeguarded the win that took City to within six points of leaders Chelsea.
In the ninth minute, Aguero stole into the box and was sent flying by a sliding challenge from Jose Fonte, but although it appeared a clear penalty, referee Mike Jones booked the incredulous Argentine for diving.
City finally broke the deadlock in the second half as Aguero gathered a through ball from Fernandinho and tiptoed into the box from the left before teeing up Toure, who crashed a 20-yard shot into the bottom-left corner with the aid of a slight deflection.
In the 80th minute Milner found Lampard lurking on the edge of the box and the former Lampard hit a low shot past a motionless Forster.
Clichy made the game safe in the 88th minute, applying an assured finishing touch to Aguero's delicate outside-of-the-foot pass.
In yesterday's game, leaders Chelsea had to be content with a point on Saturday as they were held to a 0-0 draw at battling Sunderland.
Jose Mourinho's side played out their 13th league game without defeat, stretching their unbeaten start to the season to 20 games.
Gus Poyet's men remain the last team to beat Chelsea in the Premier League, with a 2-1 victory over the Blues, secured at Stamford Bridge more than seven months ago.
Despite enjoying the lion's share of the ball for the entire contest, the unchanged visitors were made to work hard by Poyet's side, who hit the bar just before the break as Santiago Vergini latched onto Lee Cattermole's pass to send a first-time effort against the woodwork from close range.
That came after the frame of the goal had also denied Chelsea, as Willian broke through to see his low skidding effort hit the foot of the post from 20 yards.
As half-time approached, Costa inexplicably escaped censure, when the striker kicked out at John O'Shea after going to ground in a tussle with the Sunderland skipper, the Spaniard grateful for Friend's leniency after an ugly studs-up lunge at the Irishman.
Willian was inches away from grabbing a spectacular opener when the Brazilian jinked his way past Anthony Reveillere to fire just wide from 20 yards with Pantilimon beaten.
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