Context:

Southampton managed to avoid setting a new record for the lowest points in Premier League history by securing a 0-0 draw against Manchester City, bringing their total to 12 points and surpassing Derby County's record of 11 points. Despite the dismal season, goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale played a key role in the draw, making crucial saves towards the end of the match. The team's interim manager, Simon Rusk, emphasized the importance of focusing on performance and improvement, hoping the result would bolster their confidence as they prepare to return to the Championship. While fans found some reason to celebrate, pundits like Chris Sutton criticized the players for celebrating a season that still marked a poor performance overall. Southampton looks forward to their next match at Goodison Park, hoping to leave a more positive mark in the final games of the season.

Dive Deeper:

• Southampton avoided making history as the team with the lowest points in Premier League history by drawing 0-0 with Manchester City, bringing their points total to 12 and surpassing Derby County's infamous 11 points record.

• Goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, experienced in Premier League relegations, was crucial in maintaining the draw, with a remarkable save against Ruben Dias' header and surviving a near miss from Omar Marmoush's shot that hit the crossbar.

• Interim manager Simon Rusk, taking on his third managerial role this season, focused on improving the team's performance and environment, expressing pride in their ability to avoid the unwanted record and emphasizing the importance of finishing the season strong.

• Despite the relief of not being the worst team in Premier League history, former Premier League winner Chris Sutton criticized the players for celebrating what he deemed an embarrassing achievement, underscoring the disastrous nature of their season.

• Southampton fans, despite the overall disappointing season, found solace in the draw against Manchester City, with the team publicly acknowledging their struggle and the importance of the result for their supporters.

• The Saints are preparing for their upcoming match at Goodison Park on May 18, viewing it as another opportunity to end the season on a more positive note and possibly make a significant mark before their expected return to the Championship.

• The team is optimistic about their future prospects, having won the play-off final at Wembley last season, and aim to leverage the lessons from this challenging season to position themselves as strong contenders for promotion next year.