Stoke City 2-1 Southampton: Peter Crouch sinks former club after coming on for Saido Berahino who has now missed FOUR penalties since his last goal

  • Stoke City ended their five-game winless streak on Saturday by beating Southampton in the Premier League 
  • Mame Biram Diouf's second goal since May 2016 - set up by Xherdan Shaqiri - gave Stoke a first-half lead
  • And they could have been 2-0 up before half time after being awarded a penalty kick but they didn't convert
  • Dutch defender Virgil van Dijk made his first Southampton start of the season and conceded the spot kick
  • Van Dijk fouled Saido Berahino, who then saw his effort from 12 yards saved by Saints keeper Fraser Forster
  • Japanese international Maya Yoshida hit back for Southampton on 75 minutes at the bet365 Stadium
  • But Peter Crouch netted an 85th-minute winner for the Potters against his former club and the run of play 

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Sitting on the bench and cursing the latest traumatic episode of his young career, Saido Berahino must have afforded himself a rueful smile.

Having missed a penalty, Berahino then watched on as Peter Crouch, the 36-year-old who replaced him 70 minutes into this game, turned a tap-in into an empty goal with just five minutes to spare.

Crouch's goal was a gift from pointblank range and what Berahino, still only 24, would give for a chance so straightforward. 

Peter Crouch netted an 85th-minute winner to help Stoke City record a 2-1 win over former club Southampton on Saturday

Peter Crouch netted an 85th-minute winner to help Stoke City record a 2-1 win over former club Southampton on Saturday

Mama Biram Diouf had earlier scored his first goal of the season -  his second since May 2016 - to put the Potters in front

Mama Biram Diouf had earlier scored his first goal of the season - his second since May 2016 - to put the Potters in front

The Senegalese international headed home on 40 minutes to send the Potters on their way to three Premier League points

The Senegalese international headed home on 40 minutes to send the Potters on their way to three Premier League points

Saido Berahino squandered a great chance to score his first goal for Stoke when he failed to beat Fraser Forster with a penalty

Saido Berahino squandered a great chance to score his first goal for Stoke when he failed to beat Fraser Forster with a penalty

Japanese international defender Maya Yoshida equalised for the visitors with just 15 minutes of the match remaining 

Japanese international defender Maya Yoshida equalised for the visitors with just 15 minutes of the match remaining 

But Crouch's late intervation eventually gave Mark Hughes cause for celebration as his side  ended a five-game losing streak

But Crouch's late intervation eventually gave Mark Hughes cause for celebration as his side ended a five-game losing streak

MATCH FACTS, RATINGS AND PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE

Stoke (3-4-3): Butland 7; Zouma 7, Cameron 6, Wimmer 6; Diouf 7 (Johnson, 90), Fletcher 7, Allen 6, Pieters 6.5; Shaqiri 7 (Afellay 87), Choupo-Moting 7, Berahino 5.5 (Crouch 70, 7)

Subs not used: Grant, Johnson, Tymon, Afellay, Adam, Crouch, Ramadan

Booked: Allen

Goals: Diouf 40, Crouch 85

Manager: Mark Hughes 7

Southampton (4-3-3): Forster 7; Cedric 6.5, Van Dijk 6.5, Yoshida 6.5, Bertrand 6; Romeu 7, Lemina 7 (Austin 86), Davis 5.5 (Boufal 61, 7); Tadic 5.5, Long 5.5, Redmond 5.5 (Gabbiadini 67, 5.5)

Subs not used: McCarthy, Hoedt, Hojbjerg, Ward-Prowse

Goal: Yoshida 75

Booked: Tadic, Romeu

Manager: Mauricio Pellegrino 6

Attendance: 29,285

Referee: Mike Jones 7

Season at a glance

  • Premier League
  • Premier League
  • Championship
  • League One
  • League Two
  • Scottish Premiership
  • Scottish Div 1
  • Scottish Div 2
  • Scottish Div 3
  • Ligue 1
  • Serie A
  • La Liga
  • Bundesliga
Virgil van Dijk made his first Premier League appearance for Southampton. The Dutchman, who gave away a penalty, started as a left-sided centre back but ended the game as an emergency striker

Virgil van Dijk made his first Premier League appearance for Southampton. The Dutchman, who gave away a penalty, started as a left-sided centre back but ended the game as an emergency striker

Peter Crouch scored an 85th-minute winner for Stoke after a goalmouth scramble

Peter Crouch scored an 85th-minute winner for Stoke after a goalmouth scramble

For more maps and stats on this game and the rest of the Premier League fixtures visit Match Zone.

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'Crouchy is invaluable,' Stoke boss Mark Hughes said. 'It wasn't a big decision to renew his deal this summer. If he continues like this, we will have a similar discussion sometimes next year. I played until I was 38. He trains every single day with the other lads and competes.'

For poor Berahino, we are now entering that desperate stage of a goalscoring crisis where figures are broken down and historical landmarks are recalled.

582 days, 13,969 hours and over 50 million seconds have now passed since Berahino last scored a competitive goal.

That strike, scored in the colours of West Brom against Crystal Palace in February 2016, arrived in the heady days when Brexit remained a pipe dream or the stuff of sweat soaked nightmares, depending on one's allegiances, Donald Trump was a TV personality rather than the US President and Roy Hogdson carried the hopes of a nation as the England manager.

Here, at last, Berahino must have thought his moment had come. Stoke were 1-0 up already through Mame Biram Diouf's simple header from a Xherdan Shaqiri corner when Berahino began to run at the returning Virgil van Dijk. The Dutchman, playing for the first time since January after a serious injury and extended transfer saga, flung out an arm and Berahino fell to ground. The striker immediately reached for the ball.

As he placed it down, the goal opened like the arms of a lover; and then closed once more with the snap of a venus fly tap as goalkeeper Fraser Forster sprawled across his line to make the save. Remarkably, it was the fourth time Berahino has missed from the spot since he last scored a goal. 

Though Forster was able to save Berahino's penalty, the Saints stopper was given no chance when Diouf headed in the opener

Though Forster was able to save Berahino's penalty, the Saints stopper was given no chance when Diouf headed in the opener

Diouf's rare goal was assisted by Potters playmaker Xherdan Shaqiri (right), who delivered a fine inswinging corner kick

Diouf's rare goal was assisted by Potters playmaker Xherdan Shaqiri (right), who delivered a fine inswinging corner kick

Shaqiri helped Diouf with his celebrations while summer signing Kevin Wimmer was also at the heart of the Potters party

Shaqiri helped Diouf with his celebrations while summer signing Kevin Wimmer was also at the heart of the Potters party

Diouf was clearly delighted after scoring his 20th goal for Stoke. He looked highly emotional after finding the back of the net

Diouf was clearly delighted after scoring his 20th goal for Stoke. He looked highly emotional after finding the back of the net

It was also a landmark day for Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk as he made his first Premier League start of the season

It was also a landmark day for Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk as he made his first Premier League start of the season

Dutchman Van Dijk, who handed in a transfer request over the summer, did not enjoy the comeback he would have wanted

Dutchman Van Dijk, who handed in a transfer request over the summer, did not enjoy the comeback he would have wanted

From the player who cannot score to the team who cannot score, Southampton were inhibited once more here. Southampton had scored only two goals in seven fixtures so far this season. The slump is worse at home, where Southampton have failed to score in nine of their past 10 matches.

Here, however, they appeared to have brought their troubles along with them. Their play is pleasant enough but a cutting edge is absent. This is a long-term malaise and the sight of £67.8m worth of talent on the Southampton bench, including Charlie Austin, Manolo Gabbiadini and Sofiane Boufal, is a reminder that this is club with loftier ambitions than a low mid-table finish.

Nathan Redmond spurned a clear opening in the first-half, scuffing wide and in the second-half, Shane Long headed over twice in quick succession.

Maya Yoshida soon stepped up to the plate, as he acrobatically turned in a neat move involving Boufal and Long.

Southampton fans, delirious by the sight of the ball in the opponents goal, excitedly crowed on repeat: 'We've scored a goal..."

For a while, they dared to dream of a two-goal bonanza. Southampton appeared the likelier side.

Yet as Stoke broke away, Eric Pieters raided down the left flank and after Maxim Choupo-Moting's was twice denied by Forster, Crouch was there to turn home a winner.

Centre back Van Dijk had a tough battle with Stoke forward Berahino, who got the better of him late on in the first 45 minutes

Centre back Van Dijk had a tough battle with Stoke forward Berahino, who got the better of him late on in the first 45 minutes

Van Dijk fouled Berahino in the penalty area just before the interval when he pulled on the former West Brom star's shirt

Van Dijk fouled Berahino in the penalty area just before the interval when he pulled on the former West Brom star's shirt

Fans at the bet365 Stadium must have thought they were were about to witness Berahino register his first goal for the club

Fans at the bet365 Stadium must have thought they were were about to witness Berahino register his first goal for the club

But England keeper Forster had other ideas and he made a good save, although Berahino's penalty was a nice height for him

But England keeper Forster had other ideas and he made a good save, although Berahino's penalty was a nice height for him

Former England Under 21 international Berahino has now failed from the penalty spot four times since last scoring a goal

Former England Under 21 international Berahino has now failed from the penalty spot four times since last scoring a goal

Home supporters feared the worst when centre back Yoshida showed the finishing instincts of a top striker to level the scores

Home supporters feared the worst when centre back Yoshida showed the finishing instincts of a top striker to level the scores

Yoshida celebrated his leveller in front of the visiting Saints fans. It was his eighth goal in five years at Southampton

Yoshida celebrated his leveller in front of the visiting Saints fans. It was his eighth goal in five years at Southampton

But Southampton's celebrations were cut short when one of their old favourites popped up to tap home a late winner

But Southampton's celebrations were cut short when one of their old favourites popped up to tap home a late winner

Crouch, who had earlier replaced Berahino as a substitute, did not hold back in his goal celebration despite his Saints link

Crouch, who had earlier replaced Berahino as a substitute, did not hold back in his goal celebration despite his Saints link

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