Just when the chasing pack thought the Manchester City juggernaut was suffering a misfire Raheem Sterling scored a stunning stoppage-time winner to give the English Premier League leaders a lift.
They earned a 2-1 victory over Southampton on Wednesday to move to 40 points.
With Manchester United having cut the gap to five points and Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool winning, any City stutter would have been cause for celebration.
But Pep Guardiola’s side thundered on with a club record 12th successive league victory.
Former Chelsea midfielder Oriol Romeu had cancelled out Kevin De Bruyne’s opener in the 75th minute.
But six minutes into stoppage time Sterling, for the third match running, snatched City’s winner, this time with a sublime curling shot.
Manager Antonio Conte was sent to the stands after a verbal meltdown at Stamford Bridge as his Chelsea side laboured to a 1-0 defeat of struggling Swansea City at Stamford Bridge.
Antonio Rudiger’s first Premier League goal sealed victory.
EPL: Sterling stunner keeps City clear, as chasing pack gets wins too
