City kept the destiny of the Premier League title in its hands by beating Southampton 4-1 on Saturday, with the visitors’ defeat further marred by a serious-looking injury to England striker Jay Rodriguez. Victory saw City close to within a point of Liverpool with a game in hand and leapfrog Chelsea into second place.

City were sluggish before the break, despite getting off to a perfect start courtesy of Toure's 22nd goal of the season inside three minutes. Dzeko got the better of Jose Fonte in the box and went down after the defender left a leg trailing for him to run into. Southampton argued the Bosnian made the most of the contact, but there seemed no doubt it was a foul and Toure calmly sent back-up goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga, playing for the injured Artur Boruc, the wrong way.

City could have doubled their lead moments later as they created a clear-cut opportunity for Nasri, but the Frenchman's low drive flew narrowly wide.

Despite their blistering start, City could not maintain the intensity and Southampton, with confidence still intact, clawed their way back into the contest.

City were given a warning as Rodriguez almost picked out Lambert with a dangerous cross and Adam Lallana was unlucky not to bring a Lambert ball under control. Lambert was only just off-target from a free-kick, but City threatened again when Jesus Navas sliced wide after an appeal for handball against Dejan Lovren was denied.

Play was held up when Rodriguez went down in considerable agony, clutching his knee, after landing heavily when unchallenged. The player was eventually carried off, to generous applause, on a stretcher, but there were fears his season - and World Cup chances - could be over.

Saints soon regained their composure, although City went close again as Dzeko thumped a header against the bar from Nasri's floated free-kick.

Jack Cork was tripped by Pablo Zabaleta as he burst into the box and Lambert maintained his 100 percent Saints penalty record to tuck home a deserved equaliser.

It might have got worse for City as Morgan Schneiderlin failed to take advantage of a clear opportunity from a corner.

But the visitors were stung as City hit them with two goals in first-half injury time. The first goal came as a result of a sublime through ball from Yaya Toure, who put David Silva into space. Southampton called for offside, but Silva played on and put Nasri through on goal, who slotted home to make it 2-1. Edin Dzeko then scored four minutes into added time, getting on the end of a cross from Kolarov.

City wanted another penalty after the restart when a charging Toure went down following a challenge from Fonte and Lovren but this time referee Chris Foy was not interested.

Kolarov had a shot deflected over and Dzeko tested Gazzaniga before horribly miscuing from the rebound.

Gazzaniga saved with his feet from Navas and substitute Alvaro Negredo could not get past Fonte after being played through.

Lambert might have given Saints late hope but drove across goal from a good position before Toure was booked for diving for attempting to win another penalty.

Jovetic added the fourth, four minutes after replacing the influential Silva, when he tapped home a Navas cross after tricky work from the Spaniard.

Toure hit a post from edge of box as City eased towards a crucial victory.

Photo: Action Images

Manchester City Polls