Stoke City survived a frantic finale with 10 men to edge past Southampton 2-1 at St Mary's, preserving their perfect start to the Championship season and tightening their early grip on top spot. Second-half strikes from Lewis Baker and Sorba Thomas, either side of Divin Mubama's red card, proved enough, despite Taylor Harwood-Bellis pulling one back late on for the hosts.
For Southampton, it was a first defeat under Will Still and a bruising lesson in ruthlessness. The home side carved out the clearer openings for long spells, struck the woodwork twice in the first half and laid siege to Viktor Johansson's goal after Mubama's dismissal, yet paid a heavy price for wastefulness in front of goal and errors in their own build-up.
Stoke, by contrast, were clinical when chances came and resilient when reduced to 10. The victory gives Mark Robins' men three wins from three league games for the first time since 1998-99, while Southampton slip to 10th after failing to turn pressure and territory into points.
Saints' bright start blunted by Welington injury and cruel woodwork