Southampton failed to maintain their unbeaten run on the road on Saturday, with Stoke City claiming all the spoils.
The Saints travelled to the bet365 Stadium hoping to secure three points having lost 1-0 to Manchester United in the previous week, but their late efforts were not enough as Stoke clinched a late win.
Mame Biram Diouf found space in the area to score from a corner, before Saido Berahino was given a penalty having been allegedly hauled down by Virgil van Dijk. However, Fraser Forster was able to prevent the former West Brom man from extending his side’s lead.
Saints fired home an equaliser through an incredible acrobatic effort from Maya Yoshida, but were sent packing with nothing to show for their late flurry of chances by Peter Crouch, who took advantage of a calamity at the back from the visitors.
It was a hugely infuriating game, but one man above all stood out for Saints, and that was Fraser Forster.
I’ve been particularly critical of the England international in the last season, and in parts of this season already, but he was outstanding against Stoke throughout.
The score line could have been far harsher but for him, and his penalty save typified how he kept Saints in the game. He made two good stops in first half to bail his defence out, and couldn’t have done much more to help his side.
Forster has been in good form recently and will now hope to find some consistency for the remainder of the season.
He has been recalled to the England squad, and will also hope to throw his hat into the ring ahead of the World Cup that follows the 2017/18 campaign.
