Southampton 1-0 West Brom: Sofiane Boufal nets a brilliant winner as Mauricio Pellegrino's side leave it late to break down Tony Pulis' resolute Baggies

  • Southampton beat West Brom thanks to a late goal from Morocco international midfielder Sofiane Boufal
  • West Brom looked set to have held on for an uneventful goalless draw in Saturday's Premier League clash
  • England defender Ryan Bertrand struck the woodwork with a free kick during the first half at St Mary's
  • The result means both sides remain in the bottom half of the table after a dramatic day in the Premier League 

Advertisement

A day of Premier League excitement looked like it would end with a result that was rather expected from two sides struggling to score.

Then, substitute Sofiane Boufal showed up. The 24-year-old had been on the field for only four minutes when he embarked on a 70-yard run, ending it by scoring the winner for Southampton.

It included Boufal getting the better of five West Bromwich Albion players, leaving two on their backsides after comically clattering into one another. A worthy winner if ever there was one.

Sofiane Boufal netted a late winner for Southampton as they beat West Brom 1-0 in the Premier League on Saturday evening

Sofiane Boufal netted a late winner for Southampton as they beat West Brom 1-0 in the Premier League on Saturday evening

After a mazy run towards the Baggies' penalty box the Morocco international found space to fire past Ben Foster from 18 yards

After a mazy run towards the Baggies' penalty box the Morocco international found space to fire past Ben Foster from 18 yards

Boufal's late intervention ensured the game between two sides struggling to score didn't end goalless at St Mary's

Boufal's late intervention ensured the game between two sides struggling to score didn't end goalless at St Mary's

MATCH FACTS, RATINGS, TABLE AND MATCH ZONE

Southampton (4-2-3-1): Forster; Cedric, Yoshida, Van Dijk, Bertrand; Lemina, Romeu (Redmond 69); Long (Austin 81), Davis, Tadic (Boufal 81); Gabbiadini  


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

Goals: Boufal 86

Yellow cards: Sane 29, Fernandinho 44

West Brom (4-3-3): Foster; Dawson, Hegazi, Evans (Nyom 32), Gibbs; Barry (McAuley 53), Krychowiak, Livermore; Rodriguez, Rondon, Chadli (Phillips 77)

Subs not used: Brunt, McClean, Myhill, Yacob

Yellow cards: Chadli 57

Referee: Graham Scott 

Attendance: 29,947 

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

 

Sofiane Boufal picked up the ball well inside his own half before netting his incredible winner. For more statistics and information visit Sportsmail's brilliant MATCH ZONE here.

Sofiane Boufal picked up the ball well inside his own half before netting his incredible winner. For more statistics and information visit Sportsmail's brilliant MATCH ZONE here.

Advertisement

When Southampton smashed their transfer record to sign Boufal last summer, it was match-winning moments like this they hoped the £16million buy would bring.

Yet even though he is now the one to beat for October’s goal of the month, Boufal insists it is not the best he has ever scored.

‘It’s very special and the win was the most important thing,’ said the 24-year-old, who has started only once in the Premier League this season.

‘I scored one better in France but I’m so happy and I passed a long, difficult moment here. I showed the manager on this pitch I can play in this team.’

Mauricio Pellegrino labelled it a ‘beautiful goal’ and must now take notice of Boufal when selecting his line-ups. ‘We dominated the game,’ he added.

Southampton had won only one of their last 10 Premier League home fixtures. To their credit, they often looked like the only side trying to get a goal here. 

Southampton centre back Maya Yoshida attempts an acrobatic overhead kick during the goalless first half at St Mary's

Southampton centre back Maya Yoshida attempts an acrobatic overhead kick during the goalless first half at St Mary's

Salomon Rondon drives with the ball as Southampton forward Dusan Tadic gives chase for Mauricio Pellegrino's outfit

Salomon Rondon drives with the ball as Southampton forward Dusan Tadic gives chase for Mauricio Pellegrino's outfit

Saints midfielder tries and fails to hook the ball towards goal under pressure from Ben Foster and Grzegorz Krychowiak

Saints midfielder tries and fails to hook the ball towards goal under pressure from Ben Foster and Grzegorz Krychowiak

Rondon challenges Saints' centre back pairing of Yoshida and Virgil van Dijk during the Premier League clash on Saturday

Rondon challenges Saints' centre back pairing of Yoshida and Virgil van Dijk during the Premier League clash on Saturday

This game had not been one to tell the grandchildren about. Heading into this, Southampton and West Brom had scored as many goals as Manchester United’s Romelu Lukaku and Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero.

Those who tuned in to BT Sport were hopeful of a surprise 5-4 thriller. No such luck, though those who patiently persisted witnessed a fine winner. Tony Pulis, however, was frustrated.

‘The kid’s scored a special goal,’ Pulis said. ‘I’ve seen him play on numerous occasions and he’s a player who can drift in and out of games but when he gets the ball, you just don’t know what he’s going to do.

‘It’s terrible to say, I couldn’t see him scoring. I thought we were very, very flat.’

Southampton were on top from the start. They struck the woodwork in the 16th minute through Ryan Bertrand, whose curling free-kick clipped off Jonny Evans’ head in the wall.

Oriol Romeu was later left kicking himself when he swivelled and sent a shot wide from two yards.

West Brom defender Jonny Evans was forced off the field with an injury after only 32 minutes. He was replaced by Allan Nyom

West Brom defender Jonny Evans was forced off the field with an injury after only 32 minutes. He was replaced by Allan Nyom

West Brom manager Tony Pulis and his Southampton counterpart Pellegrino dish out instructions from by the touchline

West Brom manager Tony Pulis and his Southampton counterpart Pellegrino dish out instructions from by the touchline

Krychowiak and Saints midfielder Steven Davis challenge for possession during the goalless first half on Saturday night

Krychowiak and Saints midfielder Steven Davis challenge for possession during the goalless first half on Saturday night

Ryan Bertrand, who hit the post with a free kick before the break, holds off the attention of West Brom forward Jay Rodriguez 

Ryan Bertrand, who hit the post with a free kick before the break, holds off the attention of West Brom forward Jay Rodriguez 

Shane Long, who has now not scored in 26 games for his club and country, likewise fluffed his lines when he sent a shot wide after a wonderful counter-attack. It was his 100th Premier League appearance too.

West Brom could have snatched it against all odds when Jay Rodriguez beat offside trap but not Fraser Forster. Against his former club, the 28-year-old spooned his shot well wide, with the ball finishing closer to the corner flag than the goal.

That was costly as Boufal was brought on in the 81st minute before scoring in the 85th to secure Southampton the win. 

Krychowiak attempts to close down Romeu as West Brom sought to move into the top half of the table with a win on Saturday 

Krychowiak attempts to close down Romeu as West Brom sought to move into the top half of the table with a win on Saturday 

Rondon holds off Mario Lemina and tries to keep the ball amid pressure from defender Cedric Soares during the clash

Rondon holds off Mario Lemina and tries to keep the ball amid pressure from defender Cedric Soares during the clash

Krychowiak, on loan at The Hawthorns from Paris Saint-Germain, digs out a pass amid pressure from Romeu and Davis

Krychowiak, on loan at The Hawthorns from Paris Saint-Germain, digs out a pass amid pressure from Romeu and Davis

Tadic looks to find a way past West Brom defender Ahmed Hegazi as both sides battled to find the opening goal on Saturday

Tadic looks to find a way past West Brom defender Ahmed Hegazi as both sides battled to find the opening goal on Saturday

Saints striker Manolo Gabbiadini rues another missed opportunity during the second half of the Premier League clash

Saints striker Manolo Gabbiadini rues another missed opportunity during the second half of the Premier League clash

Central midfielder Lemina fires a right-footed pass towards West Brom territory but the home side struggled to beat Foster

Central midfielder Lemina fires a right-footed pass towards West Brom territory but the home side struggled to beat Foster

England international Jake Livermore holds off his Republic of Ireland counterpart Shane Long during the second half

England international Jake Livermore holds off his Republic of Ireland counterpart Shane Long during the second half

Rodriguez is challenged by Romeu. Southampton left it late before finding the opener that secure all three points

Rodriguez is challenged by Romeu. Southampton left it late before finding the opener that secure all three points

The comments below have not been moderated.

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

We are no longer accepting comments on this article.