Southampton 0-0 Stoke City: Three key takeaways

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SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – MARCH 03: Mario Lemina of Southampton runs with the ball away from the pressure of Geoff Cameron of Stoke City during the Premier League match between Southampton and Stoke City at St Mary’s Stadium on March 3, 2018 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images) /

As the end of the season rumbles ever closer, Southampton again failed to wrap up an important three points in their quest for survival. Stoke once again frustrated the Saints, but at least this time they didn’t grab a last minute winner.

The snow may have been mostly gone, but it still took the entire first half for the teams to warm up. With both sides struggling to get going there was little to get the supporters interested until after the break. And although the second 45 minutes felt like one-way traffic, as is often the case these days, there was no end product.

One positive point is that neither central defender picked up a yellow card today. Both Stephens and Hoedt are a booking away from a one game ban, and with the defensive ranks looking pretty lean, their availability for the Newcastle match is a bonus.

On a drab afternoon at St Mary’s, it was a wasteful front line and a goalkeeper in inspired form that denied the hosts a win, but what can fans take away from this latest disappointment?