Sports

Stoke hold on with 10 men to draw 0-0 with Southampton

Stoke hold on with 10 men to draw 0-0 with Southampton

By ASSOCIATED PRESS

Stoke City's Joe Allen (left) and Southampton's Virgil van Dijk battle for the ball during their English Premier League soccer match at the Bet365 Stadium, Stoke, England, on Wednesday, December 14, 2016. Photo: Clint Hughes/PA via AP

STOKE: Stoke players dug deep and rode their luck as Southampton failed to capitalize on Marko Arnautovic's early sending off in a one-sided 0-0 draw in the English Premier League on Wednesday. Mark Hughes' 400th match as a Premier League manager looked set to end in disappointment when referee Anthony Taylor handed out a straight red card in the 23rd minute to Arnautovic for a challenge on Sofiane Boufal. Anger at the sending off grew after Southampton striker Shane Long appeared to elbow Bruno Martins Indi off the ball without punishment in a tempestuous clash. However, Arnautovic's early departure did not cost Stoke against a Southampton side that was devoid of a killer instinct. The visitors were dominating before Arnautovic's red card but the absence of top scorer Charlie Austin was glaring — a worrying sign given that the striker could be out for four months. Southampton peppered Stoke's goal throughout the second half yet was unable to find a winner, with substitute Jay Rodriguez somehow failing to turn home from Boufal's cross. Southampton is ninth in the standings, while Stoke is a point behind in 12th.