Southampton claimed a deserved 2-0 victory at fellow play-off hopefuls Stoke City, with Finn Azaz and Flynn Downes on target as the visitors finally ended their long wait for an away league win. Tonda Eckert’s side were in control from almost the first whistle at the bet365 Stadium, scoring early in each half and conceding few chances to a Stoke team that struggled to replicate the form that saw them win the reverse fixture in August.
Azaz finished off a slick move after just 10 minutes and Downes added a second shortly after the break, ensuring Eckert could celebrate his 33rd birthday with Southampton’s first Championship victory on the road since November. Daniel Peretz preserved the clean sheet with a late save onto the post from Tatsuki Seko, leaving Stoke’s fans to vent their frustration at full-time after a performance that offered little sustained attacking threat.
Harwood-Bellis unlocks Stoke as Azaz applies the early finish
Southampton arrived in the Potteries under scrutiny, having fallen short of expectations since last season’s relegation and with Eckert already under pressure following a shaky festive period. Yet they brought with them flickers of renewed confidence after beating Sheffield United and drawing a derby at Portsmouth, and that belief translated quickly on the pitch as they seized control against Mark Robins’ side.