Stoke player ratings vs Southampton as new boy makes difference amid heartbreak
The match became stretched through the final half hour, however. Stoke might have just been starting to think they had done enough to get a point over the line when some quick play slipped former Stoke loan striker Mubama free into the box to put his new side ahead.
The game was wrapped up in injury time when Svante Ingelsson was booked for a second time as he conceded a penalty for a foul on Samuel Edozie. Ryan Manning found the bottom corner to secure Southampton their first win. It was a sickening finish to an afternoon which had featured plenty of reasons for encouragement – but so many Championship matches will be decided by what happens in the big moments and this was proof again that those can happen at any time.
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Mark Robins made five changes to his starting XI, throwing in the surprise recall of Ben Gibson at centre-half and Bae Junho’s first start of term alongside full debuts for new signings Ben Johnson, Djibril Soumare and George Hirst. It meant a reshuffle, with Wilmot moving to the middle of defence and Sam Gallagher going wide while Junho played deeper in midfield than expected too.
Energetic opening moments – a Gibson was comfortably saved – came to abrupt halt in the eighth minute when Junho lost possession just outside the Southampton box. The hosts broke quickly and played past Soumare for Flynn Downes to slip in Larin beyond Gibson. It was a ruthless move and Larin gave Viktor Johansson no chance as he zipped into the area to finish.
Stoke responded well, however, even if Southampton maintained a serious threat when they got up the pitch. Hirst had a shot blocked from about 12 yards and Gibson got on the end of another set piece to head wide on the stretch. The equaliser came in the 27th minute. Junho made himself space in the middle and spread the ball wide for Gallagher to advance and send in a low cross, which bounced deep to Galbraith. Galbraith had the calmness about him to clip past Daniel Peretz to make it all square, cueing a loud burst of Delilah to ring around St Mary’s from the 1,800 fans in the away end.
Not many people – probably led by those who watched the second half of last season – would have predicted that Stoke would have 10 shots to Southampton’s three in the opening period, even if only two were on target.
Mistakes started to creep into play in a test of stamina and Eric Bocat needed to make a brilliant recovery tackle, flying in from behind to nick the ball off Larin just when it seemed the striker was about to tuck in his second of the day. Southampton slipped up a gear and Tom Fellows’ dinked crosses from their right could cause mayhem. A scramble from one fell to Kuryu Matsuki to try an acrobatic effort that fired over Johansson’s bar. Jack Stephens went close at the near post from a corner.
Robins moved to inject fresh legs. Robert Bozenik replaced Hirst and Svante Ingelsson – who ran on armed with energy gels to hand around the team – replaced Gallagher. Ingelsson was straight into the action and his scuffed shot almost inadvertently set up Galbraith or Bozenik but both had strayed offside.
It was turning into a test of Stoke’s fitness. Still, Johansson had barely had a shot to save and it looked like it was going to finish all square until a slick move from Southampton. Fresh subs Lewis Dobbin and Mubama linked via Finn Azaz and Mubama’s movement was too smart for his old teammates. He suddenly had space in the are to pick his spot, rolling a shot into the bottom right corner.
It was rubbed in when Ingelsson fouled Edozie running towards his own goal. He got his second yellow card as ref Steve Martin pointed to the spot. Johansson dived the right way but Manning put his effort beyond his fingertips.
Here are the player ratings from St Mary’s
Johansson: Eager to get involved, throwing himself into anything – and use his wiles as the game went on. 6
Johnson: Thrown straight in against one of best left wingers in Championship in Scienza. Made a big difference, including switching to the left for closing stages. 8
Bocat: Resumed old rivalry with Fellows but stuck to his guns with new discipline. Fantastic recovery tackle on Larin in second half. 7.5
Wilmot: Back at home in the middle of defence and needed to sweep up at times. Just couldn’t keep up with Mubama’s movement at the end. 6
Gibson: Surprise return. Caught out against Larin’s pace for opener. Best bet for attacking the ball at set piece at other end. 6
Soumare: Can handle himself and decent on the ball. Bypassed a little for opener. A welcome presence in front of centre-backs although tired as game wore on. 7
Galbraith: Can thread a pass up the pitch and popped up in box with well-timed run for equaliser. 7
Junho: Played deeper than usual. Lost possession for opener, although there was plenty of space behind him, spread play well for equaliser. 7
Gallagher: Can attack Thomas’s crosses when he’s starting from the right. Put in nice low cross of his own for equaliser. 7
Thomas: Interesting duel with Bree – and he got Manning booked too when he briefly switched wins. Dangerous crosses and set pieces. 7
Hirst: Lively and had first-half shot blocked. Always moving and an option to find for his teammates. 6.5
Bozenik (for Hirst, 62): Fresh legs to try to keep the ball up the pitch. 6
Ingelsson (for Gallagher, 70): An avoidable first booking. Conceded penalty as he picked up second. 4
Talovierov (for Bocat, 80): Couldn’t shore up Stoke’s defence as much as needed in closing stages. 5
Rigo (for Soumare, 80): Wasn’t able to help Stoke stem the tide. 5
Not used: Griffiths, Graham, Giani, Pearson, Ingelsson, Rigo, Manhoef.
Referee: Steve Martin (Staffordshire) 6
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