Stoke 0-0 Southampton: Three things we learnt

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Southampton lack sparkle

Following Arnautovic’s red card you fully expected Southampton to go on and secure a relatively comfortable victory in North Staffordshire with the advantage of having an extra player. However, The Saints struggled to break down the massed ranks of Stoke defenders and despite dominating possession the number of clear-cut goal scoring opportunities that they created were restricted to a minimum. The visitors mustered just four shots on target, a statistic that demonstrates a definitive lack of creativity and innovation in and around the eighteen-yard-box.

Claude Puel’s side were neat and tidy in possession and moved the ball around the pitch with pace, but they lacked that little bit of creative sparkle in the final third to break through the Stoke City wall. The build-up play was immaculate but each well-constructed move would break down as soon as The Saints reached the final third, whether that be a poor final delivery or a rushed shot. To an extent it was similar to watching waves crashing against a cliff with little impact.

Ryan Bertrand tested Lee Grant from range but it was Rodriguez’s miss that proved to be the crucial moment. Boufal picked up the ball on the right side of the penalty area and drove a powerful cross low across the six-yard-box. With the goal gaping, the 27-year-old striker, who had been introduced as a substitute, seemed to lack the desire to get on the end of the cross and he failed to make any contact with a despairing lunge. The ball dribbled out for a goal-kick and along with it went Southampton’s best opportunity to claim all three points.

In truth, chances were few and far between for The Saints and it certainly looks like they will need to invest in a little more quality in the final third if they are to make a genuine push for European football this season.