SAINTS endured another difficult trip to Manchester, as they succumbed to a 5-2 defeat at Manchester City.

Goals from James Ward-Prowse and Che Adams proved not enough for the visitors as doubles for Kevin de Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez, as well as a strike from Ilkay Gundogan put Pep Guardiola’s side well in command.

Defeat left the St Mary’s side seven points clear of the bottom three of the division, with 10 league games remaining.

Ralph Hasenhuttl opted to rotate his squad for the clash with the league leaders, making six changes in total from the side who beat Sheffield United 2-0 on Saturday.

Goalkeeper Alex McCarthy was recalled along with Mohammed Salisu, Jack Stephens, Moussa Djenepo, Nathan Redmond and Adams.

The injured Danny Ings was out of the squad, while Fraser Forster, Kyle Walker-Peters, Ibrahima Diallo, Nathan Tella and Takumi Minamino dropped to the bench.

Hasenhuttl decided to field regular left-back Ryan Bertrand at right-back – with Salisu on the left of the back four. Central-defender Stephens operated in midfield.

City themselves made five alterations to their line-up, the likes of Fernandinho and Phil Foden were recalled by boss Pep Guardiola.

Saints saw the majority of possession the opening 10 minutes but failed to find a clear sight on goal.

A sweeping ball from deep played by Jannik Vestergaard almost found the run of full-back Bertrand, who had surged forward on a mission to spark an attack - only to see the ball run out of play.

But with City’s first attack, Saints were carved open on 15 minutes.

A precise ball out to Oleksandr Zinchenko allowed the full-back to cut back for Foden. His initial shot was saved by McCarthy before de Bruyne fired in off the underside of the bar on the follow-up.

But Saints were quick to respond and almost had the leveller soon after. A jinking run from Redmond allowed him to fire at goal from 20 yards out – his low effort was palmed away by a diving stop from Ederson.

Saints were however level via the penalty spot after 25 minutes.

Dane Vestergaard was brought to the floor in the City box by Aymeric Laporte following a corner, with referee Jon Moss awarding the spot-kick.

Up stepped skipper Ward-Prowse to fire down the middle from 12 yards – converting his second penalty in as many games.

City then had appeals for a penalty of their own waved away at the other end. After McCarthy failed to control a pass from Salisu, he slid in on an alert Foden but referee Moss said no spot-kick.

Saints continued to fight fire with fire. Ward-Prowse tried his luck from all of 30 yards out and forced Ederson to tip over the bar with a dipping effort.

But an unforced error from the away side saw them fall behind again on 40 minutes. Adams’s misplaced pass across goal was gathered by Mahrez.

The Algerian ran to the edge of the box before whipping the ball into the bottom corner past McCarthy.

A hammer blow then came for the visitors as City scored a third moments before the break. Mahrez twisted and turned away from Salisu before seeing his strike come off the inside of the post.

German midfielder Gundogan reacted quickest to tap home the rebound from close range.

Saints made a change at the interval, with Tella coming on in place of Djenepo, who had picked up an injury in the opening period.

But it was City who started strongly after half-time. Foden fired from 25 yards out and stung the palms of McCarthy, who was up to the task to beat the ball away.

City were to get their fourth however, capitalising on another mistake in Saints’ backline.

Salisu gifted away possession to Fernandinho – the ball eventually found its way to Mahrez to slot in from inside the area.

Saints then went up the other end to find an immediate response for 4-2. Stuart Armstrong’s strike fell into the path of Adams, who smashed in his second goal in as many games to reduce the deficit.

The hosts were soon to regain their three-goal cushion, however. After being teed up by Foden, de Bruyne danced round his markers on the edge of the box before giving McCarthy no chance.

Substitute Ferran Torres then should have made it six for City after Salisu was dispossessed inside Saints box – but the Spaniard put the ball wide.

Adams had the ball in the net again late on for the away side with a crisp finish but was flagged offside as Saints were left to ponder defeat.

City: Ederson, Walker, Dias, Laporte, Zinchenko (Mendy, 81), Fernandinho, Gundogan, Mahrez (Torres, 61), De Bruyne (Aguero, 72), Silva, Foden

Unused subs: Stones, Sterling, Jesus, Rodrigo, Cancelo, Steffen (g/k).

Booked: Fernandinho.

Saints: McCarthy, Bednarek, Salisu, Vestergaard, Bertrand, Stephens (Diallo, 63), Ward-Prowse, Armstrong (Watts, 73), Djenepo (Tella, h-t), Redmond, Adams.

Unused subs: Walker-Peters, Ramsay, Ferry, Minamino, N’Lundulu, Forster (g/k).

Booked: None.

Referee: Jon Moss.