Southampton held by 10-man Stoke City

Southampton have moved into ninth place in the Premier League table, despite being held to a goalless draw by 10-man Stoke City this evening.

Saints started promisingly as Shane Long brought an early save out of Lee Grant before Joe Allen went close at the other end minutes later.

The Potters then suffered a hammer blow when Marko Arnautovic was given a straight red card for a challenge on Sofiane Boufal.

Claude Puel's side tried to make the numerical advantage count when James Ward-Prowse took aim from distance, but his shot was comfortably stopped by Grant.

Saints continued to dominate possession and tried to find an opening, with both Nathan Redmond and Ryan Bertrand squandering opportunities to break the deadlock.

On 68 minutes, Southampton wasted arguably their best chance when Boufal found himself in on goal and rather than shoot, he decided to square the ball into Jay Rodriguez, but the substitute was unable to finish.

Jonathan Walters tried to snatch an unlikely goal six minutes from time. However, the Ireland international fired a meek shot from an acute angle, with which Fraser Forster dealt with ease as both sides were forced to settle for a share of the spoils.