Wednesday 29 November 2017 23:22, UK
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola praised "special" Raheem Sterling after his late strike helped beat Southampton 2-1 at the Etihad on Wednesday night.
For the second game in a row the England international scored a dramatic late winner to keep City eight points clear of rivals Manchester United at the top of the Premier League.
Sterling's 96th-minute effort was not only his ninth league goal of the season, but it was also was the fourth different time this campaign that the forward has scored a goal in the 84th minute or later of a game.
"It is true, it was the same in the last game and the same again today," said Guardiola.
"I am so happy for him, important because he is a special guy and he did it, what an amazing goal. The goal is more than important, it is beautiful."
Guardiola did admit, however, that Southampton caused his team a number of problems throughout the game, especially from set plays, with Wesley Hoedt heading against the bar in the first half.
"We have to be fair, the first half they had chances in the set pieces always, the first goal came from a throw-in," he said. "But we controlled the counter-attack, we created enough chances to win the game. And by far we deserved to win the game.
"We celebrated with all the staff and players because we have to celebrate these kind of emotions and we are here for that. Of course, we will not lift the title as all the contenders won, but it is not enough.
"So when you live these kind of experiences, you have to do it, tomorrow rest and then we will prepare for West Ham on Sunday."
However, the City manager revealed that as the game entered injury time, he had all but given up on extending his side's 11-game winning run in the Premier League.
"You always believe, but to be honest, I thought it was over," he said. "They played 90 minutes like that and when I saw they were playing with three central defenders, I thought they would play like that."
