Southampton march on after seeing off Stoke City

Southampton have moved into second place in the Premier League table after a 1-0 win over Stoke City.

Buoyed by last weekend’s 8-0 mauling of Sunderland, the Saints notched up their fourth consecutive home win thanks to Sadio Mane’s devastating finish.

The Saints dominated the first-half with Graziano Pelle toe-ending Mane’s shot wide while the striker swept an effort over minutes later.

After Morgan Schneiderlin had struck the crossbar following a corner, the deadlock was broken when Pelle’s shot rattled the post and Mane was quickest to react to fire in the rebound.

The visitors’ best chance of the half fell to Peter Crouch who glanced a free header wide.

Stoke improved after the break after bringing on Marko Arnautovic and Mame Biram Diouf but the home side continued to carve out the better chances.

Pelle hit the woodwork with a header before failing to find the target with a free header.

Dusan Tadic also went close with a low effort after a dazzling piece of skill in the box.

But one goal was enough this time for the Saints to continue their fairytale start to the season, while the Potters are in 11th place.

4’ – SAINTS CHANCE: Mane cuts inside and sends in a vicious curling effort that Pelle gets a toe on but it drifts inches wide of the post. Great start from the Saints.

12’ – CROUCH HEADER: Nzonzi crosses from the right for Crouch and the striker's header goes wide.

15’ – MOSES SHOT: Moses gets tripped, stays on his feet and squeezes a shot which is saved. After the controversy over the penalty he was awarded last week against Swansea City, history nearly repeated itself.

18’ – PELLE CHANCE: Mane sends in a low cross to the near post which finds Pelle but his sweeping effort goes over.

30’ – FINE SAVE: Tadic's low shot from an acute angle is kept out by Begovic at his near post.

30’ – WOODWORK: From the corner, Schneiderlin rattles the crossbar with a side-footed effort from 12 yards after a clever set-piece.

33’ - GOAL! (Southampton 1-0 Stoke City): Pelle hits the post and from the rebound, Mane side-foots the ball into the top corner. Great finish!

49’ – PELLE HITS THE WOODWORK AGAIN: The striker hits the crossbar with a looping header after a brilliant Tadic cross.

66’ – TADIC EFFORT: The Serbian sells the defender a dummy and then drags his effort wide.

77’ – PELLE MISS: Pelle with a shocking miss from a free header from eight yards out following a corner.

Southampton are unbeaten in their last six matches at home in the Premier League, scoring 18 goals and conceding just two.

The Saints have failed only once to score at home against Stoke City in the top flight in their last 13 matches, when they drew 0-0 on 16 March 1985.

Mane scored his first league goal after his effort against Sunderland last week was adjudged to have been a Patrick van Aanholt own goal.

Stoke City have kept only one clean sheet in their last 16 away matches in the league, when they won 1-0 away at Manchester City on 30 August 2014

Can the Saints maintain this momentum? They have the best defence in the league, have scored the most goals after Chelsea and lie second in the table after an amazing start. History says they will eventually fade but with Manchester City and Liverpool’s patchy form, the Saints could be shock contenders for a Champions League spot. Ronald Koeman deserves huge credit in his first season in English football.

Sadio Mane (Southampton): The midfielder was brought into the side by Ronald Koeman because of his pace and he certainly delivered. His goal was the result of a brilliant finish and the Senegalese star was a constant threat with his runs down the wing and his link-up play with Pelle.

Southampton: Forster 5, Clyne 5, Fonte 5, Alderweireld 5, Bertrand 5, Cork 5, Schneiderlin 5, S. Davis 6, Mané 8, Tadić 7, Pellè 7. Subs: Gardos 5, Wanyama 6.

Stoke Ciy: Begovic 5; Bardsley 5, Shawcross 5, Wilson 4, Pieters 4; Cameron 5, Nzonzi 5; Walters 5, Adam 5, Moses 6; Crouch 6. Subs: Arnautovic 5, Diouf 5, Assaidi 5.