Dickov proves his worth

George Weah's brief spell at Maine Road was already a distant memory as Paul Dickov produced another clinical strike to put Manchester City en route to their second away win of the season at the expense of Southampton last night.

It was Dickov's form which kept Weah out of the team and persuaded the Liberian superstar to abandon Maine Road less than three months into a two-year contract.

At Southampton, in the first game since Weah's high-profile exit, Dickov doubled his Premiership tally with his second goal in successive games.

Danny Tiatto broke to thump home the second in stoppage time and end Southampton's hopes of finding an equaliser.

Dickov scored a screamer against Bradford a fortnight ago, and as the ball rolled into the net again those City fans on the south coast could not have cared less about the former World Footballer of the Year, now at Marseille.

Jeff Whitley split the Southampton defence in the 38th minute, and Dickov exploded into the space before sliding a precision finish past the despairing dive of Paul Jones.

Glenn Hoddle's team dominated the second half. But City's defence, bolstered by £3 million signing Richard Dunne, were solid - and Nicky Weaver made two inspirational saves.

Whitley almost made the points safe when he skipped round goalkeeper Jones in the 81st minute, but Wayne Bridge cleared his shot off the line.

Tiatto made no mistake in stoppage time, though, thumping a fierce drive home to sew up the win.

"Our back-four were great. It was our second clean sheet in a row and it was a good debut from Richard Dunne because right-back isn't his favourite position," said City Manager Joe Royle afterwards.

SOUTHAMPTON: Jones, Dodd, Lundekvam, Le Tissier (Davies 46), Oakley (Marsden 46), Ripley (Beattie 72), Pahars, Bridge, El Khalej, Kachloul, Soltvedt. Subs Not Used: Moss, Draper. Booked: El Khalej.

MANCHESTER CITY: Weaver, Whitley, Haaland, Wiekens, Prior, Howey, Ritchie, Dunne, Wanchope (Goater 68), Dickov, Tiatto. Subs Not Used: Wright, Bishop, Wright-Phillips, Kennedy. Booked: Howey, Dickov. Goals: Dickov 38, Tiatto 90.

Referee: A Wiley (Burntwood).