17 August 2012 15:31
Newly promoted Southampton face the daunting task of taking on Premier League champions Manchester City on Sunday.
Southampton followed in the footsteps of Norwich to secure back-to-back promotions but Nigel Adkins’ men will be in no doubt as to the step up in quality when they tackle Roberto Mancini’s side at Etihad Stadium.
In their first taste of top-flight football since 2005, Southampton will have their work cut out in the opening four weeks with fixtures against last season’s top three – City, Manchester United and Arsenal – as well as Wigan.
Last year’s leading scorer in the Championship, Rickie Lambert, will be challenged with another step up in class and will need all the support he can get from livewire Adam Lallana and signings Jay Rodriguez and Steve Davis.
English winger Rodriguez made the move from Burnley for a club-record fee of seven million pounds while former Rangers’ captain Davis will provide much needed steel in the midfield department.
This clash looms as the biggest mismatch on the opening weekend of fixtures despite City’s uncharacteristic lack of activity in the transfer market.
The champions had not added to their squad until Sunday when the capture of young Everton midfielder Jack Rodwell for 12 million pounds was announced.
Mancini voiced his frustrations at the club’s lack of activity but refused to expand on his irritations with City the only Premier League club without a signing until Rodwell’s transfer.
Still, a fully fit Carlos Tevez will provide a huge boost to City while the enigmatic Mario Balotelli has remained with the club after a stellar Euro 2012 campaign with finalist Italy.
In their final match before the season proper, City looked fluid as they picked up the Community Shield with a 3-2 defeat of Chelsea on Saturday.
Southampton, in a rather ominous result, were comprehensively outplayed at St Mary’s in a 4-0 defeat in their final warm-up match against Italian side Udinese.