Time really is running out for Southampton and Stoke. This stalemate does few favours for either side, with the outlook increasingly bleak after both teams seemingly froze with fear in a dour meeting in which profligacy ruled.
Paul Lambert’s side also had Jack Butland to thank for what the manager described as world‑class saves but the painful reality is Southampton’s attack – nothing short of slapstick in nature at times – failed to infiltrate the leakiest defence in the division.
Saints supporters have had little to shout about on home turf for a while; they have won just four league games here in the past 13 months. This result made history for the wrong reasons: a record eighth successive Premier League home game without victory. With nine matches left, three of which are at home, including Manchester City’s visit on the last day of the season, the numbers are simply not adding up for Mauricio Pellegrino.
Asked whether this stalemate, which keeps his side teetering above the relegation zone, will affect his future as manager, Pellegrino replied: “For me, the most important now is Southampton. This is more important than me. It’s more important than the players, the manager, every single person that works.”
Southampton were roundly booed off at half-time and at the final whistle, with the worry that they are sleepwalking towards the Championship. Pellegrino is concerned about his players’ mentality but there is no quick fix. “For managers, the easier things are the tactical or technical things to put players on the pitch but to connect with human beings who have their feelings, beliefs and values,” he said. “We have to be behind them, support them and be demanding because, at this level, it’s not easy to be there.”
Neither team was truly rattled in a poor first half but Lambert introduced Peter Crouch at the interval and the former Saints striker made an immediate impact, flicking on a header for Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting to race through on goal, but he scooped the ball harmlessly over Alex McCarthy.
Xherdan Shaqiri cut a frustrated figure throughout, none more so than when fuming at Mame Biram Diouf’s failure to latch on to his pass, with the Stoke pair through two on one, with Jack Stephens, the Southampton defender, backpedalling. But Shaqiri supplied Stoke’s attacking vigour, flighting a wonderful diagonal pass for the onrushing Badou Ndiaye, only for the January signing to glance wide.
“He [Shaqiri] excites you when he’s got the ball; he makes things happen and he has been outstanding in the six games I’ve been here,” Lambert said. “He can keep doing his frustration if he keeps doing what he’s been doing, because he’s genuinely a world-class footballer.”
With full-time approaching, Southampton swarmed the Stoke back line but never with belief – more in a state of panic. Butland superbly denied Nathan Redmond late on, getting a left hand to the Southampton winger’s curling effort before gleefully cradling Josh Sims’s devious low cross, preventing Guido Carrillo, the £19m club-record signing, notching his first goal since arriving from Monaco in January.
“I think he’s the best one around and I think he’s got a fabulous future ahead of him,” Lambert said of the England goalkeeper. “He’s a proper bloke, just a really nice professional, low maintenance and looks after himself.”
The Southampton substitute Sofiane Boufal squandered the best chance, though, heading wide after leaping high to meet Redmond’s cross. Neither team’s run-in makes for pleasant viewing and, after failing to seize three priceless points here, both are in for an uneasy ride until May.
