Ronald Koeman Surprised With Shane Long’s Inclusion

Austrian striker Marko Arnautović provided the lone goal for Mark Hughes’ squad to give them a much-needed three points in the overall standings.

Midway through the first half Shaqiri took Bojan’s flick into the box superbly in his stride, but put his shot too close to the advancing Maarten Stekelenburg who was able to make a good block.

Austrian Arnautovic passed to full-back Pieters, whose cross was flicked in at the near post by the unmarked Bojan.

Substitute Ibrahim Afellay then dragged a shot wide for Stoke, before the visitors were handed a reprieve in the closing stages when Wollscheid appeared to catch Pelle in the air when attempting to clear the ball in the area.

Southampton play Stoke City on Saturday which could see them go to fifth if they win.

With four wins and just one defeat in their last six league outings, Mark Hughes’s side head to St Mary’s as one of the in-form teams in the Premier League, with only this weekend’s opponents and Arsenal picking up more points from their last six fixtures.

Stoke City is twelfth in the league with 16 points having won 4 games, drawn 4 and lost 4.

The forward missed England’s games against Spain and France during the global break with a hip injury but will match Ruud van Nistelrooy’s Barclays Premier League record of scoring in 10 straight games if he plays and nets at St James’ Park on Saturday.

City were looking lively on the break, but couldn’t muster anything better than Bojan’s soft daisy cutter into the keeper’s arms in the opening flurries.

Steven Davis was the architect behind the majority of Saints’ responses, but Graziano Pelle just failed to get on to the end of one inviting cross before Stoke keeper Butland surprisingly dropped a free kick from the midfielder only for Victor Wanyama to stab the loose ball wide.

Southampton midfielder Dusan Tadic.