Match ends, Southampton 0, Stoke City 1.
Stoke City achieved Championship safety with a win over promotion-chasing Southampton, who have now lost three games in a row.
The visitors took the lead after an impressive start with Tyrese Campbell firing under keeper Alex McCarthy.
Saints had a number of chances to level but were unable to beat Daniel Iversen, and also had two appeals for penalties waved away.
Russell Martin's side are now mathematically unable to achieve automatic promotion, six points off second place with one game remaining, but remain fourth in the table.
Stoke had a glorious chance to break the deadlock early on, Alex McCarthy palming the ball into the path of Josh Laurent, who poked the ball wide from close range.
The visitors piled on the pressure, playing the ball around Southampton's defensive third, while the home side struggled to retain possession to the frustration of their supporters.
Sekou Mara came close to an opener on 20 minutes, latching onto a ball played over the top and heading over the hesitant Iversen, but Luke McNally was there to sweep the ball away to safety.
Saints enjoyed more possession as the first half wore on and David Brooks forced Iversen into a save after the ball was cut back to him inside the box.
But Stoke went in front with 10 minutes left before the interval as Campbell beat Taylor Harwood-Bellis and drilled the ball home for his second league goal of the season
The goal sent the travelling supporters into loud celebrations with chants of "we are staying up" ringing out from the away end.
Saints nearly conceded again at the start of the second period after a mistake by Jack Stevens, but a lunging tackle by Jan Bednarek - brought on as a substitute for Harwood-Bellis at the break - averted the danger.
Saints boss Martin made further changes at the hour mark, introducing Che Adams and Flynn Downes in search of an equaliser.
There were two big shouts for a penalty in the later stages, Sam Edozie going down in the box and Adams appearing to shoot against the hands of a Stoke defender, but both were in vain.
Southampton failed create any clear chances in the final moments, and the biggest cheer from the home supporters coming when a Stoke clearance was booted out of the stadium.
They booed the Saints players at the final whistle, while the visiting supporters provided a stark contrast, with jubilant celebrations as they celebrated remaining in the second tier for next season.
Southampton boss Russell Martin told BBC Radio Solent:
"There were a lot of changes today, we had a bad start to the game and Stoke were really good.
"It's been a busy week and a tough week, I'm disappointed its ended like that at home.
"We have another game to prepare for before the two biggest games of the season."
Stoke City boss Steven Schumacher told BBC Radio Stoke:
"The win means everything to us, I'm relived more than anything.
"Overall I'm delighted with the performance, the players were excellent and fully deserved the win.
"We have had more shots than Southampton, double as many attacks. Not many teams will come here and do that."
Line-ups
Southampton
Formation 4-3-3
- 1McCarthy
- 2Walker-Peters
- 21Harwood-BellisSubstituted forBednarekat 45'minutes
- 5StephensBooked at 42mins
- 14Bree
- 16Smallbone
- 24CharlesSubstituted forAriboat 45'minutes
- 36BrooksBooked at 44minsSubstituted forDownesat 63'minutes
- 23EdozieSubstituted forA Armstrongat 79'minutes
- 18MaraSubstituted forAdamsat 63'minutes
- 26Fraser
Substitutes
- 3Manning
- 4Downes
- 7Aribo
- 9A Armstrong
- 10Adams
- 13Lumley
- 19Rothwell
- 20Sulemana
- 35Bednarek
Stoke
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Iversen
- 17Hoever
- 16Wilmot
- 23McNally
- 3StevensSubstituted forBurgerat 73'minutes
- 28Laurent
- 15Thompson
- 42ManhoefSubstituted forTchamadeuat 83'minutes
- 25CundleBooked at 38minsSubstituted forBakerat 83'minutes
- 22BaeSubstituted forCunha Vidigalat 84'minutes
- 10CampbellSubstituted forEnnisat 69'minutes
Substitutes
- 5Rose
- 6Burger
- 7Cunha Vidigal
- 8Baker
- 13Bonham
- 14Ennis
- 24Tchamadeu
- 30Sidibe
- 35Lowe
- Referee:
- David Webb
- Attendance:
- 30,584
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home65%
- Away35%
- Shots
- Home14
- Away15
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away8
- Corners
- Home8
- Away7
- Fouls
- Home4
- Away14
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Southampton 0, Stoke City 1.
Post update
Ché Adams (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Lewis Baker (Stoke City).
Post update
Kyle Walker-Peters (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Wouter Burger (Stoke City).
Post update
Corner, Stoke City. Conceded by Jack Stephens.
Post update
Attempt saved. Niall Ennis (Stoke City) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Junior Tchamadeu with a cross.
Post update
Attempt missed. Will Smallbone (Southampton) header from very close range is too high. Assisted by James Bree with a cross following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Junior Tchamadeu.
Post update
Joe Aribo (Southampton) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Josh Laurent (Stoke City).
Substitution
Substitution, Stoke City. André Vidigal replaces Bae Jun-Ho.
Substitution
Substitution, Stoke City. Lewis Baker replaces Luke Cundle.
Substitution
Substitution, Stoke City. Junior Tchamadeu replaces Million Manhoef.
Post update
Attempt missed. Adam Armstrong (Southampton) right footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Ryan Fraser.
Post update
Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Luke Cundle.
Substitution
Substitution, Southampton. Adam Armstrong replaces Samuel Edozie because of an injury.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Ché Adams (Southampton) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jan Bednarek.
Post update
Attempt missed. Jan Bednarek (Southampton) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by James Bree with a cross following a corner.
Comments
Join the conversation
Southampton were very poor, with no real possession, just holding it in their own half then trying to rush it forward when the space opened up.
Southampton should have had one penalty in the first half, none in the second, they created very few chances. That said Stoke should have had a penalty and if not for some great saves Stoke could have won by 3 or more.
RIP CJ
Hopefully we will have a better season next time around, plenty of work to do in the summer SJW and schuey will sort it out!
UTMP ⚪️🔴🏺