- Bojan’s third goal of season the winner
- Saints miss numerous chances
- Back-to-back 1-0 wins for Stoke
- Four-straight away clean sheets for Stoke
Stoke City won 1-0 away at Southampton on Saturday as Bojan Krkic’s early strike was enough to down the Saint at St Mary’s.
Southampton had 16 attempts but just one target throughout the entire game as Stoke soaked up the pressure and looked dangerous on the break in the second half.
The only goal of the game came courtesy of a clever flick from Bojan at the near post, as the three points that goal sealed sees Stoke move up to 10th in the table on 19 points. Southampton drop to eight on 20 points.
[ MORE: Watch full match replays ]
Saints had the first chance of the game as Dusan Tadic put an effort just wide but after 10 minutes Stoke were ahead as Bojan made it 1-0. The Spanish playmaker flicked Erik Pieters’ cross beyond Maarten Stekelenburg and into the net as the Potters went ahead. Stoke pushed hard to go 2-0 up as they caught Saints cold and Xherdan Shaqiri was denied as Stekelenburg saved his low shot with his legs.
[ VIDEO: Premier League highlights ]
Saints had chances through Graziano Pelle, Jose Fonte and Steven Davis but squandered them in the first half as they battled back and tried to get on level terms but Stoke held firm and Saints’ shooting let them down with all nine efforts off target.
[ MORE: Latest Premier League standings ]
After the break Stoke could have easily gone 2-0 up but Shaqiri blazed over with the goal at his mercy and then Southampton continued to press but failed to create any clear cut chances as the home fans grew frustrated. Substitute Sadio Mane tested Jack Butland but he saved easily, with Ronald Koeman’s side throwing everything they had at the Potters.
[ MORE: Click here for full lineups, stats, box score ]
Late in the game Saints piled forward and were left susceptible on the break with Ibrahim Afellay setting up Marko Arnautovic but he spurned a glorious chance to put the game to bed. Moments later Charlie Adam and Afellay went close -- the latter had a shot cleared off the line -- but then a huge moment arrived when referee Lee Mason waved away a penalty appeal from Pelle after Phillip Wollscheid appeared to have challenged the Italian forward unfairly in the box.
Stoke held on to secure back-to-back 1-0 victories and move into the top half of the table.