ROMAIN Perraud has called on Saints need to show a "reaction" at the Etihad this weekend, and feels after playing out two draws with the Premier League champions last season: "Maybe Man City doesn't like to play against us."

Eight games into the season, Saints sit 16th in the table, on the back of three straight defeats.

They face the daunting-looking task of a trip to face Pep Guardiola's Citizens, who are unbeaten this season and scored 11 goals in their past two fixtures.

But Ralph Hasenhuttl's men do not have to look too far back for some positive memories of facing one of the best sides in the world.

Last season, Saints picked up a well-earned point at the Etihad, drawing 0-0. The two sides then shared a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture at St Mary's, thanks to a Kyle Walker-Peters strike.

The last time the two sides met, however, City ran out 4-1 winners in the FA Cup quarter-finals in March.

Looking ahead to this weekend's fixture, left-back Perraud told the Daily Echo: "We did two draws against them last season, so maybe Man City doesn’t like to play against us.

"And we need to continue on this shape and on this mentality.

"Our mindset needs to be ready, aggressive, try to look them in the eyes and we need to take some points and we will be ready to take points."

Erling Haaland is looking on course to break an array of Premier League goalscoring records, having already notched 14 in his first eight appearances.

"Of course he is an amazing striker," said Perraud.

"But, at the moment, I try to look on ourselves and how we can compete against him especially and against them.

"Everybody knows he’s a big striker, but at the moment we have to have a reaction for our fans, for the club and that’s all."

Saints are still seeking their first Premier League clean sheet of the season.

Stretching back to last season, the run of games without a top-flight shut-out now stands at 14 matches, since the 1-0 win over Arsenal in April.

Asked how frustrating that stat is for him as a defender, Perraud said: "It can be frustrating, yes, but after (the Everton game) we spoke together and we just need to be clinical offensively and defensively.

"Because the last three games we lost by one. In my opinion, some games should be a win for us.

"Now we need to realise and be ready for the next opponent. We have big fixtures until the World Cup, so everybody needs to be ready to compete."

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