Sterling strikes at death as Man City beat Southampton

Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester City vs Southampton - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - November 29, 2017 Manchester City's Raheem Sterling scores their second goal REUTERS/Andrew Yates

Nov 29 (Reuters) - Raheem Sterling struck in the sixth minute of stoppage time as Manchester City beat Southampton 2-1 for a club record 12th successive Premier League victory on Wednesday.

It had looked as though the Oriol Romeu's 75th minute equaliser had slowed the City juggernaut, but Sterling curled an unstoppable effort past Fraser Forster at the death to send the Etihad Stadium crowd wild.

Sterling has now scored the winning goal in three successive games for City.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester City vs Southampton - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - November 29, 2017 Southampton's Mario Lemina in action with Manchester City's Sergio Aguero REUTERS/Andrew Yates

City were never at their fluent best but Kevin De Bruyne's free kick, which took a touch off of Saints defender Virgil van Dijk, put them ahead straight after halftime.

Forster made some crucial saves to keep his side in the game and former Chelsea player Romeu struck with a shot off the underside of the crossbar to reward Southampton who had gone close twice before the break.

Sterling's moment of brilliance ensured that City stayed on course to break Arsenal's all-time record winning streak in the Premier League and restored their eight-point lead over Manchester United who won at Watford on Tuesday.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester City vs Southampton - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - November 29, 2017 Southampton's Oriol Romeu celebrates scoring their first goal with team mates REUTERS/Andrew Yates

(Reporting by Martyn Herman; Editing by Toby Davis)

Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester City vs Southampton - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - November 29, 2017 Manchester City players celebrate after Southampton's Virgil van Dijk scores a own goal and the first for Manchester City REUTERS/Andrew Yates

Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester City vs Southampton - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - November 29, 2017 Manchester City's Sergio Aguero in action with Southampton's Mario Lemina Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith

Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester City vs Southampton - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - November 29, 2017 Manchester City's Sergio Aguero in action with Southampton's Maya Yoshida Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith

Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester City vs Southampton - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - November 29, 2017 Southampton's Oriol Romeu celebrates scoring their first goal with Sofiane Boufal, Cedric Soares and Virgil van Dijk Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith

Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester City vs Southampton - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - November 29, 2017 Southampton's Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg in action with Manchester City's Fabian Delph Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith

Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester City vs Southampton - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - November 29, 2017 Southampton's Mario Lemina in action with Manchester City's Ilkay Gundogan Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith

Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester City vs Southampton - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - November 29, 2017 Manchester City's Nicolas Otamendi celebrates after Southampton's Virgil van Dijk scores a own goal and the first for Manchester City REUTERS/Andrew Yates

Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester City vs Southampton - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - November 29, 2017 Southampton's Virgil van Dijk (not pictured) scores a own goal and the first for Manchester City as Manchester City's Nicolas Otamendi looks on REUTERS/Andrew Yates

Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester City vs Southampton - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - November 29, 2017 Southampton's Oriol Romeu scores their first goal Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith

Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester City vs Southampton - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - November 29, 2017 Southampton's Shane Long applauds the fans as he is substituted off Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith

Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester City vs Southampton - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - November 29, 2017 Southampton's Cedric Soares in action with Manchester City's Raheem Sterling REUTERS/Andrew Yates

Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester City vs Southampton - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - November 29, 2017 Manchester City's Raheem Sterling scores their second goal REUTERS/Andrew Yates

Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester City vs Southampton - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - November 29, 2017 Manchester City's Sergio Aguero shoots at goal REUTERS/Andrew Yates

Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester City vs Southampton - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - November 29, 2017 Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola celebrates after Raheem Sterling scored their second goal REUTERS/Andrew Yates

Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester City vs Southampton - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - November 29, 2017 Manchester City's Ederson celebrates their second goal Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith

Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester City vs Southampton - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - November 29, 2017 Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola celebrates with David Silva and Sergio Aguero after Raheem Sterling scored their second goal REUTERS/Andrew Yates

Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester City vs Southampton - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - November 29, 2017 Manchester City's Vincent Kompany celebrates with Raheem Sterling at the end of the match Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith

Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester City vs Southampton - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - November 29, 2017 Manchester City's Raheem Sterling celebrates scoring their second goal Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith

Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester City vs Southampton - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - November 29, 2017 Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola celebrates with Sergio Aguero at the end of the match Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith

Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester City vs Southampton - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - November 29, 2017 Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola celebrates REUTERS/Andrew Yates