Man City looking to avoid two unwanted Pep Guardiola records vs Southampton in FA Cup

Avoiding two unwanted records

Such are the high standards of this Manchester City side, two goalless draws in succession can be seen as something of a slump or even the start of a crisis. A goal, and a win, at Southampton will not only secure a Wembley semi-final spot, but end any whispers of a City being on a bad run.

City have never gone three games in the same season without scoring under Guardiola, although the first two games of this season coupled with the Champions League final in the summer was technically three blanks in a row. That run was also the only time City have gone three games without a win since April 2018, with Guardiola's first season providing the only other occasions when he has overseen three consecutive draws or losses in the same campaign.

Added to that, if Southampton were to progress on Sunday, they would become the first side to face City at least three times in a season without losing since Guardiola's arrival.

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Five subs? Don't count on it

In 15 games this season where Pep Guardiola has had the option of using five substitutes, he has exercised that option just four times - in the comfortable Champions League wins vs Club Brugge (twice) and RB Leipzig, plus the FA Cup win against Fulham. He has used four substitutes on six occasions, with five games where he has made three or fewer changes.

Guardiola is a vocal advocate for the use of five substitutions in the Premier League, but as the Crystal Palace draw showed, he reserves the right not to use the changes he is allowed. At Southampton, he can use the rare luxury of making five changes and it may be useful with extra time a real possibility at St