Bojan strikes as Stoke City stifle Southampton to grab win

Bojan's third Premier League goal of the season was enough to secure Stoke City's first league victory away at Southampton since October 1980.

The former Barcelona man stylishly flicked a deflected Erik Pieters cross beyond Maarten Stekelenburg at the near post after just 10 minutes to give the visitors the lead with their first clear chance.

Southampton, who went into the match unbeaten in eight games, pushed hard for an equaliser but found themselves frustrated by a Potters defence that has now gone five consecutive away matches in all competitions without conceding a goal.

Indeed it was Stoke City who had the better chances, with Marko Arnautovic, Xherdan Shaqiri and substitute Ibrahim Afellay all spurning gilt-edged opportunities to make sure of the deserved win that moves Mark Hughes' men into the top half of the Premier League.

6' - CHANCE: Stoke City are unable to clear the ball from the resulting throw and as the visitors scramble, Tadic screws a low shot just wide from a tight angle.

10' - GOAL! Southampton 0-1 Stoke City. The visitors score the first clear chance of the game, with Bojan neatly flicking a deflected Pieters cross beyond Stekelenburg at the near post. Clinical finish from the former Barcelona man.

16' - CHANCE: Brilliant flowing counter from Stoke City as Arnautovic switches the ball to Bojan and the Spaniard slips Shaqiri through, but Stekelenburg saves well with his feet.

37' - CHANCE: Stoke City overplay from a short corner and Southampton counter with pace and purpose, but while Tadic manages to stand up and then jink past Johnson, he rips his shot well over.

46' - CHANCE: Huge opportunity for Stoke City, as Arnautovic pulls the ball back after some nice interplay with Bojan to find Shaqiri unmarked on the edge of the penalty area, but the Swiss winger blazes his shot over when he should work Stekelenburg.

81' - CHANCE: Another Stoke City counter finds Afellay in space on the edge of the box and his low strike misses Stekelenburg's far post by inches. Another huge chance for the visitors to finish this.

82' - PENALTY SHOUT: Wollscheid is fortunate not to see Lee Mason point at the spot after he catches Pelle with a stray foot as the Italian brings down a high ball.

89' - CHANCE: Stoke City create another chance to kill the game as Arnautovic picks out Afellay from the left, but the former Barcelona man's shot is blocked on the line by Bertrand.

Southampton suffered only their second defeat in their last 11 Premier League games (W5 D4 L2).

Stoke City have kept five clean sheets in their last six Premier League matches – this after conceding in each of their eight PL games prior to this run.

Stoke City have kept four successive clean sheets away from home in the top-flight for the first time since February 1970 (five in a row).

The Potters have won 10 points from their last four Premier League away games (W3 D1 L0).

There have been just 23 goals scored in Premier League games involving Stoke City this season; fewer than any other side.

Four of Bojan’s last five Premier League goals have come away from home.

Do Stoke City have the best defence in the Premier League? Jack Butland has garnered much praise for his consistently excellent form this season, but Stoke City have protected him exceptionally well since captain Ryan Shawcross made his Premier League return in the Potters' goalless draw with Newcastle at St James' Park last month. Shawcross and Philipp Wollscheid have a superb understanding at the heart of the Potters defence and - one rash tackle on Graziano Pelle that was lucky not to result in a Southampton penalty aside - the German was flawless, covering his less mobile partner on the rare occasions that Shane Long attempted to run in behind. On the flanks Glen Johnson looks like a player revitalised and limited the threat of Dusan Tadic, while Erik Pieters was similarly assured and even managed to gallop forward and supply the cross that led to Bojan's winning goal.

Mark Hughes' men have a defence-first mindset that will never make them the Premier League's most exciting team to watch, but their deep-lying backline gave the likes of Marko Arnautovic, Xherdan Shaqiri and Ibrahim Afellay space to counter and they should have killed the game several times over. This Stoke back four - reinforced by Butland who claimed countless free-kick and corner deliveries - has now kept three consecutive clean sheets and, while it is an admittedly small sample size, on this form you'd be hard-pressed to find a more formidable defensive unit in the Premier League.

Philipp Wollscheid (Stoke City) Unquestionably fortunate to give away a penalty late on when he clipped Graziano Pelle as the Italian attempted to bring down a high ball in the box, but that moment was the one blemish on an otherwise flawless defensive performance. He was as dominant in the air as partner Ryan Shawcross, ensuring Pelle and Southampton's midfield runners could never seriously test Jack Butland, and his mobility also neutralised the threat of Shane Long running in behind on the rare occasions that the Potters backline did push up.

Southampton: Stekelenburg 6, Cedric 5, Fonte 5, Van Dijk 5, Bertrand 6, Davis 6, Wanyama 7, Clasie 6, Tadic 5, Long 5, Pelle 6. Subs: Mane 6, Ward-Prowse 6, Juanmi 5.

Stoke City: Butland 7, Johnson 7, Shawcross 7, Wollscheid 8, Pieters 7, Shaqiri 6, Whelan 7, Adam 7, Arnautovic 7, Bojan 7, Walters 6. Subs: Afellay 7, Cameron 6, Diouf 6.