Tonda Eckert made just two changes to the side that took the field at Fratton Park. Ross Stewart came in for Adam Armstrong up front, and Tom Fellows started ahead of Kuryu Matsuki.
A lively start saw Jack Stephens make an excellent sliding tackle on Sorba Thomas as Stoke City threatened inside the box.
Down the other end, Léo Scienza failed to make the most of a couple of openings before Saints opened the scoring in the tenth minute.
Taylor Harwood-Bellis spotted the run of Tom Fellows behind the left-back and picked him out with a brilliant low through ball. Fellows slid the ball across the six-yard box and into the path of Finn Azaz to tap in from close range.
Stoke City 0-1 Southampton
Advantage: SAINTS 👊 pic.twitter.com/lzo1U3h6DW
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) January 31, 2026
Southampton almost gifted the Potters an equaliser when Saints keeper, Daniel Peretz, made a hash of a clearance as the ball rolled to him on the edge of the box. Thankfully, Peretz recovered and won the ball back.
Peretz more than made up for his error when Bae Jun-Ho fired a shot towards the top right-hand corner, only to see the Saints keeper fly across his goal and save high to his left.
Two penalties waved away by the referee
The Saints could feel aggrieved not to have been awarded two penalties in the opening period. Jack Stephens was clearly hauled back by Maksym Talovierov as the Southampton captain fought to get on the end of a Scienza corner.
Then, on the half hour, Finn Azaz went down in the box under a challenge from Ashley Phillips. The match referee, Farai Hallam, decided that Azaz had simulated contact and, instead of pointing to the spot, issued Azaz a yellow card.
The Saints dominated the rest of the first half and were clearly the superior side.