Saints snatched a 3-1 victory over Stoke City at St Mary’s, with the win coming after a late burst of goals that saw the Saints level the score for most of the second half before turning the match in their favour. Cyle Larin opened the scoring eight minutes in, after a pass from Flynn Downes found the Canadian striker who coolly slipped the ball past Viktor Johansson’s legs to give Southampton a 1-0 lead.
Stoke responded before the half-hour mark when Ethan Galbraith converted Sam Gallagher’s cross from the right, putting the Potters level at 1-1. The match remained a tight affair until the final minute of added time, when former Potters loanee Divin Mubama, who came off the bench, was played in by Finn Azaz. Mubama fired a low shot into the far corner, giving Saints a 2-1 lead.
The hosts had a chance to equalise in the dying moments when Sorba Thomas cut inside and swung a cross into the box, only for Robert Bozenik to narrowly head the ball wide at the back post. Saints then sealed the win when Ryan Manning stepped up for a penalty after Sam Edozie was fouled by Svante Ingelsson, who was shown a second yellow card and sent off.
Saints’ owner Dragan Solak was in attendance and watched the teams walk out as the home fans chanted in support of head coach Tonda Eckert. Eckert praised his players’ resilience, saying the team had to “dig deep” and grind out the result in the second half.
Stoke boss Mark Robins said the team had played well but had tired in key areas, and that the changes made during the match had not produced the quality he wanted.
Defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis was omitted from the Saints’ matchday squad, leaving his future at the club uncertain after Aston Villa’s rejected bid.
The Saints remain bottom of the Championship table on minus one point, having started the campaign on minus four due to the punishment for last season’s ‘Spygate’ scandal. The late win gives them their first three points of the season.
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