SLIDESHOW: City’s winning home run was brought to an end in controversial circumstances. A goal in each half by Lee Barnard gave Saints the points, but City had to play the final third of the game without inspirational midfielder Darel Russell, who was shown a straight red for a high challenge.

City's winning home run was brought to an end in controversial circumstances.

A goal in each half by Lee Barnard gave Saints the points, but City had to play the final third of the game without inspirational midfielder Darel Russell, who was shown a straight red for a high challenge.

It looked a harsh decision by referee Russell Booth, but unless City appeal - successfully - they will be without Russell for three games.

However, there will be few who will argue that Saints weren't worth the points against a City side who rarely reached the standards that have taken them to the top of League One.

Perhaps the one consolation on the day was that Leeds failed to beat Brighton, leaving City three points clear.

Korey Smith was perhaps the pick of the City players and one of the few to really test Saints keeper Kelvin Davis.

Barnard's first goal came on 32 minutes when he headed home after Rickie Lambert's 30-yard free-kick had come back off the underside of the bar.

Russell saw red on 63 minutes, for a high challenge on Morgan Schneiderlin, and 14 minutes later Barnard scored his second, moments after Adam Lallana had twice hit the post.

The Canaries - whose last home defeat was the 7-1 thrashing by Colchester on the opening day of the season - had won 11 in a row at home and fell one short of equalling a club record dating back to 1952.