Stoke hold on with 10 men to draw 0-0 with Southampton
Stoke hold on with 10 men to draw 0-0 with Southampton
Published: 11:21 am Dec 15, 2016
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.