Finn Azaz and Flynn Downes secured Southampton a 2-0 victory at fellow play-off hopefuls Stoke as boss Tonda Eckert celebrated his 33rd birthday with a first Championship win on the road since November.
Saints have fallen short of expectations since last season’s humiliating relegation from the Premier League and turned to the German coach, initially on an interim basis, after sacking Will Still in November.
Eckert found himself under pressure during a shaky festive period, but the mood at Southampton has improved somewhat after following a win against Sheffield United and derby draw at Portsmouth by beating Stoke.
Mark Robins’ side were outplayed from the outset on Saturday lunchtime, with Azaz finishing an excellent move early into a match that Saints strengthened their grip on when Downes prodded home just after half-time.
Daniel Peretz tipped Stoke substitute Tatsuki Seko’s late volley onto the post as Southampton wrapped up a first away league win in 10 weeks.
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A beautiful defence splitting pass from Taylor Harwood-Bellis sent Tom Fellows into space and his cross was converted from close range by Finn Azaz.
Adam Armstrong and Cameron Archer were conspicuous by their absence from the visitors’ squad amid speculation ahead of Monday’s transfer deadline, but Taylor Harwood-Bellis started despite West Ham’s interest.
The defender made a wonderful contribution after just 10 minutes at the bet365 Stadium by sending an exceptional defence-splitting pass through to Tom Fellows, who continued to cut across for Azaz to tap in.
Peretz nearly undid that with a goalkeeping gaffe but then showed his quality by superbly stopping a Bae Jun-ho strike from distance.
Saints attempted to kick on from those scares. Tommy Simkin saved a Fellows snapshot after brilliantly being put behind by Azaz, who was furious to be shown a yellow card for an apparent dive in the box.
The playmaker felt he was caught by Ashley Phillips, but referee Farai Hallam was having none of it.
This was the official’s first match since infuriating Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola during his first Premier League match last weekend by sticking with his decision not to award a penalty against Wolves.
Southampton continued in the ascendancy and Robins made a triple change at the break but Stoke would fall further behind in the 52nd minute.
Ross Stewart flicked on a corner and Downes fell over trying to contact with the ball, only to react quickly to stab home at the near post.
Azaz went close to adding another with an audacious effort, with referee Hallam missing Phillips’ pull on Harwood-Bellis’ shirt at a corner.
That intensity eventually settled but Stoke offered little by way of threat – a far cry from the table-topping side that won August’s reverse fixture at St Mary’s.
Seko saw a volley tipped onto the post by Peretz late on but Stoke fans made their frustrations clear at full-time.
The managers
Stoke’s Mark Robins:
“It was poor. We got everything wrong. Everything. There was a lack of thought, there was a lack of urgency, a lack of energy, a lack of understanding, which is a recipe for disaster.
“We didn’t deserve anything from the game and it is absolutely clear the reasons why we lost the game.
“The prerequisite is you’ve got to go and fight. If you’re not as good as the opponent, and sometimes you’re not, then at least you’ve got to fight and stop them from playing.
“We gave them goals. I mean, the goals were terrible. We’ve got positional plays wrong, couldn’t lay a glove on anybody in midfield in the first half. We just didn’t have the legs.
“There’s nothing in that game that I’m happy with. Nothing. And that’s the first time I’ve ever said that.”
Southampton’s Tonda Eckert:
Southampton head coach Tonda Eckert heaped praise on ‘ultimate professional’ Harwood-Bellis as the defender ignored the noise around West Ham’s interest to help the side win 2-0 at Stoke.
Harwood-Bellis’ exceptional pass led to Finn Azaz’s opener at the bet365 Stadium before Flynn Downes wrapped up the victory.
“Taylor is an ultimate professional,” boss Eckert said. “I think you don’t find many like him in the game. The quality to block the noise at the moment.
“I think he was outstanding today. The first pass that he played for Tom (Fellows), there’s not many in the league that can do that. Outstanding player.”
Harwood-Bellis is among a number of Saints players being linked with a move before Monday’s deadline.
Adam Armstrong, a reported target of Middlesbrough, was conspicuous by his absence from the squad at Stoke, as was fellow striker Cameron Archer amid talk of a loan to Rangers.
“Adam was supposed to be starting (as of) yesterday,” Eckert said. “So, he did do the training session, got a knock, and then we needed to change.”
Asked if he expected Armstrong to still be at Saints come Monday night, Eckert added: “Let’s see. I think it’s not just him. I think there’s been a lot of noise around a couple of players.
“Let’s see what the next days bring and then I think next week, we are clear on what the team is going to look like for the game coming up on the weekend.”
