Late Mane strike gives Southampton scrappy win over Crystal Palace

Sadio Mane’s close-range chip eight minutes from time gave Southampton a 1-0 win over Crystal Palace at St Mary’s, lifting the Saints back up to fifth in the table.

Alan Pardew’s side had less of the ball but the majority of the chances as Jason Puncheon’s shot on the turn was well saved by Forster before Zaha hit the post.

Southampton dominated the ball but were mostly restricted to long shots until Maya Yoshida sent Graziano Pelle’s flick-on from a corner inches wide.

The Saints got the goal they had been waiting for, their first at home in the Premier League since beating Arsenal 2-0 on New Year’s day, with just eight minutes remaining and largely thanks to some poor goalkeeping from Julian Speroni.

Midfield substitute James Ward-Prowse had only been on the pitch for five minutes when he turned past Dann and saw his low shot from 20-yards out parried towards Mane who calmly chipped into the net.

35' – CHANCE: Bolasie volleys a ball to the far post which Forster should claim comfortably but spills as he looks up at the floodlights. Zaha is inches away from poking it into the empty net but the giant goalkeeper smothers it just in time.

40' - CHANCE: Speroni breathes a sigh of relief as he spills a shot from Elia on the left-had side of the area and almost allows Pelle to tap in, only for Ward to hack the ball just in time.

47' - CHANCE: Brilliant save by Forster from Puncheon. The ball was driven into the area from the left to Puncheon and the midfielder controls the ball and then hits his shot on the turn. It was a firm strike but straight down the middle and Forster made the block.

55' – POST! Crystal Palace should be ahead! First Bolasie gets free to the right of Southampton's central defenders and blasts a low shot which Forster parries away. Zaha is fed the ball by Bolasie on the rebound and drives a low shot against the inside of the far post and Southampton eventually clear.

69' - CHANCE: Yoshida is inches from the opener. Pelle flicks on Tadic's corner from the right and the Japanese defender sticks out a leg but sends it just past the far post.

82' - GOAL! Southampton 1-0 Crystal Palace. It didn't seem like it would ever come but Southampton have their goal! Ward-Prowse, on for less than five minutes, turns past Dann and shoots from just outside the area. Speroni pushes the shot straight out in front of him and Mane is there to dink it into the net. Poor goalkeeping.

Sadio Mane’s strike was Southampton’s first Premier League goal at St Mary’s Stadium since January 1st.

Crystal Palace have never beaten Southampton in the Premier League, drawing four and losing eight.

Sadio Mane (Southampton): The Senegalese forward was Southampton’s best attacking option throughout the game, beating Crystal Palace players and winning free kicks while his teammates failed to spark. His calm, classy finish could be the catalyst for a Southampton resurgence after a poor run.

SOUTHAMPTON: Forster 7, Clyne 6, Yoshida 8, Fonte 7, Bertrand 6, Schneiderlin 7, Wanyama 7, Mane 8, Elia 5, Djuricic 6, Pelle 5... Subs: Long 6, Tadic 6, Ward-Prowse 7.

CRYSTAL PALACE: Speroni 5, Ward 6, Dann 6, Delaney 7, Kelly 7, Ledley 7, Zaha 7, Puncheon 7, McArthur 6, Bolasie 7, Gayle 5... Subs: Ameobi 5.