Southampton looked certain to exit the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night, as the challenge of Manchester City followed a poor run of form in the Premier League.

The Saints overcame Crystal Palace in the FA Cup, however, the result was effectively dismissed by Southampton fans as a one-off result. 

Nathan Jones has been under unbelievable pressure in recent weeks, with Saints fans having almost no hope in the former Luton Town boss.

However, Jones claimed arguably the biggest result of his managerial career, after Southampton beat the Citizens 2-0 on Wednesday evening.

First-half goals from Sékou Mara and Moussa Djenepo sealed the win for the Saints, who progress to the Semi-Finals of the Carabao Cup to face Manchester United.

Here's a summary of how each player performed on the night, starting with the home side: 

  • Southampton 

 

Gavin Bazunu - 7/10: The former Portsmouth goalkeeper had a solid game between the sticks. Keeping a clean sheet is no easy feat against the Premier League champions, and whilst City didn't register a shot on target, the Republic of Ireland international played his part. 

Kyle Walker-Peters - 7/10: Switching to right-back in the second half, Walker-Peters caused City problems down the wing at times, and contributed to a clean sheet for the Saints.

Mohammed Salisu - 6/10: Whilst he's another who contributed to Southampton's clean sheet in the back line, the Ghana international did make a few sloppy mistakes, nearly gifting a goal when the central defender was dispossessed by Cole Palmer. However, his mistakes wouldn't go on to cost Nathan Jones' side. 

Duje Caleta-Car - 7/10: The Croatian looked solid at the back, playing his part in a tight backline against City.

Lyanco - 8/10: Arguably the best player on the night, the Brazilian showed his worth at both ends of the pitch. Usually a centre-back, Lyanco was pushed out wide at right-back and did an excellent job. Whilst also keeping a clean sheet, the key moment for the Brazilian was his pinpoint cross into Sékou Mara, which played a crucial part in Southampton's progression in the Carabao Cup. 

 

Romeo Lavia - 7/10: Coming up against his former club, Lavia put on a good showing in front of his old boss. The Belgian got the assist for the second goal and held his position well in the Saints' midfield. 

Ibrahima Diallo - 6/10: Whilst not overly involved in the game, Diallo held his position well alongside Lavia, ensuring City were limited to space in the attacking third. 

Adam Armstrong - 5/10: Armstrong failed to have any significant impact on the game, and was subbed off with less than ten minutes to play. 

James Ward-Prowse - 6/10: A lot is expected of Ward-Prowse with the standards he's now set. Whilst he didn't have the greatest impact on the game, he was solid in midfield for the Saints. 

Moussa Djenepo - 7/10: Although he was substituted midway through the second half, Djenepo played a crucial role in the win. Whilst he was helped by poor positioning from Stefan Ortega, his goal was a brilliant strike nonetheless. 

Sékou Mara - 7/10: The other goalscorer in the tie, Mara's goal was a brilliant volley from a superb Lyanco cross to give the Saints the lead early on. The France youth international got into good attacking positions for Southampton, which was rewarded with the goal. 

Substitutes: 

Romain Perraud - 6/10: Perraud was impressive when he came on. The full-back was confident on the ball, and showed that when taking the game to Man City down the wing, similar to how Walker-Peters did.

Mohamed Elyounoussi - 5/10: The Norwegian failed to make any significant impact on the game, but still played his part in the final minutes in the Saints keeping a clean sheet. 

Che Adams - 5/10: Similarly to Elyounoussi, the Scotland international did not make too much of an impact. However, he continued the role of creating chances in the final third. 

Mislav Orsic - 5/10: The Saints' new signing only played the last ten minutes. Whilst he made no impact, Southampton will be happy he got the first few minutes under his belt. 

  • Manchester City

 

Stefan Ortega - 5/10: Without a doubt, the German goalkeeper was at fault for the second goal on the night. However, he did make a few good other saves to ensure it did not get worse for City. 

Joao Cancelo - 5/10: The Portuguese international has only started once for City since before the World Cup break, and it showed. Cancelo was dispossessed too easily on a few occasions, which allowed Southampton to break at times. 

Kyle Walker - 4/10: Walker was at fault for Southampton's first goal, after not tracking Mara for the cross. The England international was substituted at half-time at St Marys Stadium, to sum up a poor defensive display by Walker. 

Aymeric Laporte - 5/10: In a woeful display at the back for Pep Guardiola's side, Laporte was the only defender who was not at fault for the goals. The Spanish international was calm on the ball, making the right passes on most occasions, something that those around him failed to do at times. 

Sergio Gomez - 4/10: Whilst the former Borussia Dortmund man has been limited for chances since signing for the Citizens, it was a poor display by the full-back. For a Manchester City player, his passing was his downfall, giving the ball away on too many occasions. Like Walker, he was substituted at half-time, to sum up another individual poor display. 

Cole Palmer - 5/10: Palmer looked lively once again for City, as he always does in the cup competitions when he gets the opportunity. Unfortunately for him, he was another one subbed off at half-time.

Kalvin Phillips - 4/10: Another one who had a poor game for City. When Phillips was at Leeds, he had more aggression about him and would win most challenges. However, at City, he does not look like the player he was at Elland Road. 

İlkay Gündoğan - 4/10: The German midfielder did not get involved in the game much, however, missed a golden opportunity in the first half.

Phil Foden - 4/10: Although Foden had lots of movement in his game on Wednesday night, he lost the ball on several occasions, contributing to a lack of control from Man City. 

Jack Grealish - 5/10: Playing on the left, Grealish found lots of space on the wing, but was inconsistent with his decision-making when getting near the 18-yard box.

Julián Álvarez - 4/10: Ultimately, as a striker, your job is to score goals and get shots away, and with Alvarez not even managing a shot on target, the Argentine did not have the best of games.

 

Substitutes: 

Nathan Ake - 6/10: Ake came on the pitch and ensured City did not concede any more goals and therefore did the job he was sent on to do. 

Manuel Akanji - 6/10: Similarly to Ake, the Switzerland international did well in the back line in a better defensive display in the second half for the Citizens. 

Kevin De Bruyne - 5/10: De Bruyne came on and made no real impact, losing possession on a few occasions. 

Erling Braut Haaland - 5/10: Pep Guardiola sent on the Premier League top scorer in a bid to rescue the tie for City. However, Haaland never really got the service he was looking for and failed to convert the one real chance he got in the six-yard box. 

Rodri - 5/10: The Spanish midfielder calmed the game down in midfield for City, but again made no real impact after being subbed on in the 63rd minute.