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Sofiane Boufal came off the bench to score a wonderful solo goal to earn

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Will Unwin
Sat 21 Oct 2017 14.29 EDTFirst published on Sat 21 Oct 2017 11.30 EDT
Sofiane Boufal of Southampton breaks through on his way to score his superb solo goal which gave the Saints the three points.
Sofiane Boufal of Southampton breaks through on his way to score his superb solo goal which gave the Saints the three points. Photograph: Steve Bardens/Getty Images
Sofiane Boufal of Southampton breaks through on his way to score his superb solo goal which gave the Saints the three points. Photograph: Steve Bardens/Getty Images

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Full-time: Southampton 1-0 West Brom

The game was settled by a goal it did not deserve. Sofiane Boufal will have to wait until May to find out if he’s won Goal of the Season, but he’s in with a good chance thanks to his solo stunner after coming off the bench. Just Pellegrino’s second home win since taking over, so he will be a relieved man, not to mention the fact his sub made the difference.

Southampton’s Maya Yoshida and Sofiane Boufal celebrate their victory after the final whistle. Photograph: Peter Nicholls/Reuters
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90+3 min: Southampton are just knocking the ball around waiting for the final whistle, as West Brom accept they won’t score. Oh...and Boufal has been given Man of the Match.

90+1min: Tony Pulis is moaning about his side not being given a free-kick in the build-up to the goal they conceded, rather than complain that his team couldn’t stop a man over a 70-yard run.

89 min: The home crowd will be coarse by the end of the game having erupted for Boufal’s stunner and now they can’t stop singing about the Saints and their direction of marching.

87 min: Dawson decides this the moment to leave the pitch with what seems to be a muscle injury. He is now limping down the tunnel and West Brom are down to 10 men.

GOAL! The sub Boufal has just scored one of the best goals you’ll see this season. He picked the ball up in his own half and he just ran at the West Brom defence, hilariously making two crash into each other, before the Southampton man calmly slotted the ball into the corner. I am pleased I watched to the end now.

Southampton’s Sofiane Boufal leaves a trail of flailing Baggies players whilst on his mazey, jinky run from his own half ... Photograph: Glyn Kirk/AFP/Getty Images
Before stroking home the ball to give Southampton the lead. Photograph: Glyn Kirk/AFP/Getty Images
It’s no wonder Boufal and his team-mates look so happy, it was a fantastic goal. Photograph: Peter Nicholls/Reuters
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82 min: Boufal’s first involvement is to sent in a weak cross which is easily cleared. Let’s hope he finds his feet in the game.

80 min: Redmond, who has made a real difference, tries to curl on in from 20 yards, but it just goes the wrong side of the post. Now Boufal has replaced Tadic and Austin is on for poor Shane Long.

79 min: I told my dad I was doing a Guardian MBM and he explained he looked forward to reading it in the Observer tomorrow. He might be disappointed.

I see what you’ve done there

Thomas from the world of electronic mail says: “How come Tony Pulis isn’t sponsored by a paint store? They could have pre made cans with the title “now you can watch the first team anywhere” (but catchier). Sales would go through the roof!”

74 min: West Brom have a corner but the ball doesn’t read their land of giants in the area as Chadli hits the first man.

72 min: Tadic finds himself unmarked in the area as the ball floats to his feet, but the midfielder is quickly charged down by Foster, forcing him to kick the ball straight at the goalkeeper’s chest. It’s livening up at least.

Southampton’s Dusan Tadic has a shot saved by West Bromwich Albion’s Ben Foster. Photograph: Paul Childs/Action Images via Reuters
The players clash as they chase for the loose ball. Photograph: Glyn Kirk/AFP/Getty Images
Tadic appeals for penaltybut the referee cocks a deaf ‘un and plays on. Photograph: Steve Bardens/Getty Images
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71 min: Foster shows a turn of pace to just about keep the ball in when it looked like it was heading out for a corner. The knee is in good nick.

70 min: This is better than Liverpool v Manchester United, but maybe that’s just because my expectations were so low for this. Am I wrong?

Joesph says: “Forster’s not great, but as a Liverpool fan, Karius hadn’t saved a shot on target until last week.”

But at least Karius isn’t allowed to play very often. I once interview Loris in a previous life. He likes Nandos.

Anne takes us down Memory Lane...

“First match at St Mary’s was Japan v Nigeria in a friendly. Was played on a Saturday, chucking it down, really windy. I lived in a basement on old Northam Rd then and remember being mighty confused at seeing drips and drabs of Japanese and African blokes walking by. As the numbers increased I had to nip out and ask what was happening which Jim who ran a footie memorabilia shop just down the road told me and then kindly lent me a tenner so I could go along. Think the match ended 2-1in Nigeria’s favour. The pitch was horrendously waterlogged, as badly as A field was on the first leg of their UEFA Cup Final against Monchengladbach in 1973. Had it been other than a friendly that day it would have been abandoned.”

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Chris from Stockport asks: “Gabbiadini makes me wonder which English players from 1990s (Marco) have a more sophisticated foreign player currently carrying their name?”

Not that it’s a great question.

64 min: West Brom have certainly been more ambitious since moving to three at the back. Speaking of ambition...Cedric has just launched one 5678934 rows back at St Mary’s.

62 min: Set-piece experts West Brom give Chadli the chance to whip one in from 40 yards and the ball drops to Forster who inexplicably dropped it a yard from his own goal. Was he always this bad a goalkeeper? Lucky to get away with that one.

Oops. Photograph: James Marsh/BPI/Rex/Shutterstock
Fraser Forster attempts to grab the ball. Photograph: Steve Bardens/Getty Images
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60 min: Rodriguez has the best opportunity of the game for West Brom, but nerves get the better of him after latching onto a through ball. The striker somehow sent it 57089349 yards wide when one-on-one.

58 min: Hegazi is a ruddy good defender, not messing about and just getting the job done since minute one. Will be good to see him at the World Cup next year.

57 min: Forster comes to try and clam a swirling cross 16 yards from his own goal. Due to his current form, he doesn’t get anywhere near catching it, forcing his defenders to help him out.

55 min: Rodriguez gets a chance from 20 yards but hits it with his weaker left foot when it seemed to be set for his right. It goes well wide and he walks off in shame.

Charles has emailed to say: “I came to the MBM late, and wondered why the picture editor had chosen to illustrate it with a photo of players grimacing in stupefied agony. As I read down it became clear.”

Grimacing at my terrible words?

53 min: Barry goes off and McAuley comes on. Surely everyone thought Pulis needed another defender on the pitch.

52 min: Long has realised he can’t score from two yards so rifles in an effort from 20, but it’s straight at Foster.

51 min: Gabbiadini has a chance with his feet this time, as he collects the ball on the edge of the area, but his shot flies wide following a deflection. The corner is easily cleared.

50 min: Cedric’s cross loops a bit and it’s coming down as it makes contact with Gabbiadini’s head, meaning the Italian can only send it over the bar.

48 min: West Brom are deep and compact, a system they know how to operate within. Not sure Rodriguez thought he’d be playing as an auxiliary left-back when he moved to The Hawthorns.

Use all the relevant the media on offer to contact me so I can use your words to pad out this MBM. If Rob Smyth has any advice to send it, you’ve got my details.

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