Paul Sturrock praised the "honesty" of his players after Saints piled the pressure on former Dell great Kevin Keegan.

The 3-1 win on Saints' first visit to the City of Manchester Stadium was a performance which Sturrock suggested displayed everything the team do best.

He said: "We're very pleased after our disappointment at Middlesbrough.

"We've been a bit rollercoaster over the past three games - a very good performance against Wolves to a very disappointing performance last Monday.

"The players are getting it in their heads what hard work, attitude and good shape can do for a team.

"And our two strikers penetrated down the channels as well, and when we do that we look a good side."

Sturrock added: "It's a difficult place to come because there's a pressure on Manchester City and they've got quality players.

"We allowed quality players to play last week and they hurt us with passes. Our emphasis here was not to let them have time on the ball and it's worked very well.

"As the game unfurled their supporters got on their backs, which doesn't help as far as confidence is concerned, and we benefited from it.

"In the end we had a good shape; there was always somebody in the ball carrier's face allowing us to go and steal things and pressurise the man on the ball to make poor passes.

"You saw several times that Man City kicked the ball out of the park under pressure - and that's what Southampton's all about.

"When we're honest and we play with a bit of honesty we're a decent side."