MARKO OFF.. BUT POTTERS STAND FIRM
STOKE rolled up their sleeves and battled to earn manager Mark Hughes a point in his 400th Premier League match.
Hughes became only the sixth boss to reach the milestone, joining Sam Allardyce, David Moyes, Harry Redknapp, Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson in the club.
The Potters playedy the majority of the game with 10 men after Marko Arnautovic’s dismissal (above) for a reckless tackle.
And the hosts showed plenty of theh kind of fighting qualities that Sparky showed in his pomp to earn a point.
Stoke were positive early on and Xherdan Shaqiri dinked the ball into the path of Joe Allen, who saw his low shot saved by the feet of Saints keeper Fraser Forster.
The visitors discovered their rhythm and the quick feet and skilful play of Sofiane Boufal left Stoke’s defenders in a spin.
Boufal (above) linked up superbly with Ryan Bertrand and Saints went close when the left-back skimmed a low ball into the box which just required the faintest of touches.
Morocco star Boufal was Saints’ club record signing when he was snapped up from Lille for £16million in the summer and he is looking like a bargain.
Perhaps it was frustration at Boufal’s threat which led Arnautovic to make a rash high challenge on the attacking midfielder. Arnautovic scraped his studs on Boufal’s knee as he r received the ball at a throw-in, w which led referee Anthony Taylor to show the A Austrian a st straight red. A cursory glance was all ll Arnautovic received from manager Hughes as he walked to the tunnel. With a numerical advantage, the visitors monopolised possession but found the Potters even harder to break down.
A free-kick from James Ward-Prowse straight into the arms of keeper Lee Grant was the best the Saints could muster as the half wound down.
On the hour mark Grant, who is on loan from Derby, produced a brilliant one-handed diving save to deny a blistering longrange effort from Bertrand.
Saints then forced a succession of corners but, despite the imposing presence of Virgil van Dijk, Stoke defended bravely.
Boufal slid a teasing pass into the box for sub Jay Rodriguez, only for the striker to miss the ball.
The Potters only fleetingly threatened at the other end from set-pieces and were indebted to skipper Ryan Shawcross and defensive partner Bruno Martins Indi as they repelled a late wave of attacks.