Southampton's four-match unbeaten run came to a shuddering halt as they were beaten 3-0 by Manchester City at the St Mary's Stadium.
Claude Puel's men held their own until half-time, but second-half strikes from City captain Vincent Kompany, Leroy Sane and Sergio Aguero all but ended their hopes of launching a late-season European charge.
Positives
Not too many teams could have lived with the way City counter-attacked in the second half. Sane and Kevin De Bruyne were unplayable at times, so Southampton should not feel disgraced.
Although he was starved of service, the sight of striker Manolo Gabbiadini back in a Southampton shirt gave the home fans a lift.
Negatives
Southampton once again failed to trouble the scoreboard at home. Their lack of goals at St Mary's is something Puel and his players need to address for next season if they are to challenge for a Europa League place.
Manager rating out of 10
5 -- Jordy Clasie can question why he was left out after scoring the winner at West Brom last week. Puel's double substitution 15 minutes into the second half -- bringing on Shane Long and the out-of-sorts Sofiane Boufal for James Ward-Prowse and Gabbiadini -- handed the initiative to City. The manager's decision to take Long off 22 minutes later also left home supporters and the player himself baffled.
Player ratings (1-10; 10 = best. Players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating)
GK Fraser Forster, 5 -- Made some important saves, most notably when throwing himself at the feet of Sane before half-time, but still conceded three times.
DF Cedric Soares, 6 -- Beavered away gamely, but found De Bruyne too hot to handle as City dictated the second half.
DF Maya Yoshida, 7 -- Put in another heroic display. Without the much-improved Japan international, City's win could have been more commanding.
DF Jack Stephens, 6 -- Got in some superb block challenges, but was beaten too easily in the air by Aguero for City's third goal.
DF Ryan Bertrand, 4 -- Could not handle the lively Sane and was continually pulled out of position by City's fluid attack. A rare off day.
MF Steven Davis, 8 -- Had to work overtime to get the ball back off City and started some attacks with a number of defence-splitting passes.
MF Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, 5 -- Was surprisingly picked ahead of Clasie. Put Southampton under pressure with needless fouls.
MF James Ward-Prowse, 6 -- Sent in some teasing deliveries without ever really carving the City defence open.
MF Dusan Tadic, 4 -- Missed a sitter at 0-0 that could have changed the course of proceedings in Southampton's favour.
MF Nathan Redmond, 6 -- Was Southampton's star man in their 1-1 draw at the Etihad, but was unable to repeat those heroics here.
FW Manolo Gabbiadini, 5 -- Had a quiet game on his injury comeback and can primarily blame it on his teammates, who could not get the ball to his feet regularly enough.
Substitutes
MF Sofiane Boufal, 4 -- Contributed nothing.
FW Shane Long, 4 -- Suffered the embarrassment of being substituted after entering off the bench.
FW Jay Rodriguez, N/R -- Was only given eight minutes.