Southampton could not end the season in a positive manner today as Stoke City came away with all three points.
It was a dull game in large parts, with neither side looking particularly determined to go out and make the difference in the match but it was the visitors who took the spoils after Peter Crouch netted on the hour mark, powering the ball beyond Fraser Forster who still appears to have lead in his boots.
Saints had their chances in the match but Stoke goalkeeper Jack Butland produced a fine, shot stopping display to thwart the hosts on their own turf yet again.
The defeat has somehow managed to keep Saints sat in eighth place with a laughably low total of 46 points.
Claude Puel’s campaign will now be assessed by the powers at be, and an interesting summer surely awaits.
In our penultimate ratings piece for the 2016/17 season, with an end of season individual review to follow, here are our match ratings.
