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PETER CROUCH spared Saido Berahino’s blushes with the scrambled winner which earned the Potters three valuable points.

Southampton thought Maya Yoshida’s late leveller had earned them a share of the spoils.

 Peter Crouch spares Stoke's blushes with a late winner
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Peter Crouch spares Stoke's blushes with a late winnerCredit: Rex Features
 Mame Diouf's header gave Stoke the lead in the first half
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Mame Diouf's header gave Stoke the lead in the first halfCredit: Reuters

The Japanese defender produced an acrobatic finish after 75 minutes to crash the ball in off the underside of Jack Butland’s crossbar after Shane Long had flicked on sub Sofiane Boufal’s cross following a corner.

Saints thought they could hold on for the remaining 15 minutes until Crouch pouncerd to score from close range following a penalty box scramble five minutes from the end.

However if that poacher's strike brought a smile to Mark Hughes’ face, the agony continues for Stoke’s £12million misfit Saido Berahino.

The Stoke striker had a penalty kick saved by Fraser Forster shortly after Mame Diouf had headed Stoke in front after 40 minutes.

It is now a staggering 582 days and 32 games since Berahino last found the net – when he hit West Brom’s winner in a 3-2 win against Crystal Palace way back on Saturday, February 27, 2016.

Mark Hughes handed his hapless hitman his first start since the opening day of the season and it all seemed to be going swimmingly when Virgil Van Dijk tugged at Berahino to send him toppling in the box three minutes before the break.

 Mame Diouf's first goal of the season gave Stoke the lead against Southampton
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Mame Diouf's first goal of the season gave Stoke the lead against SouthamptonCredit: Reuters
 Maya Yoshida acrobatic effort cancelled out Stoke's opener
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Maya Yoshida acrobatic effort cancelled out Stoke's openerCredit: Rex Features
 Maya Yoshida equiliser only lasted 10 minutes
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Maya Yoshida equiliser only lasted 10 minutesCredit: Reuters

Berahino jumped to his feet to demand the ball but nerve failed to hold as Fraser Forster dived to his left to parry away the forlorn striker’s spot-kick.

Fortunately for him, veteran striker Crouch came to the rescue - to show him how it should be done.

 Virgil van Dijk conceded a penalty in his first Premier League start since January
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Virgil van Dijk conceded a penalty in his first Premier League start since JanuaryCredit: Reuters
 Saido Berhino stepped up to take a penalty but was unable to convert from the spot
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Saido Berhino stepped up to take a penalty but was unable to convert from the spotCredit: Reuters
 Fraser Foster saved Saido Berhino's tame penalty three minutes after conceding
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Fraser Foster saved Saido Berhino's tame penalty three minutes after concedingCredit: Getty Images - Getty



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FACTS, STATS, GOALS & LOLS

  • Stoke have won three of their last five matches against Southampton, losing just one.
  • Ten of Southampton's 11 Premier League goals against Stoke have been scored in the first half.
  • Southampton have failed to score in 10 of their last 14 Premier League matches and have scored just eight goals from 180 shots in these games (4.4%).
  • Southampton have kept a clean sheet in their opening two league games away from home in 2017-18. They’ve never kept clean sheets in their opening three away games of any of their previous 90 seasons in the Football League.
  • Virgil van Dijk has not started a Premier League fixture since Southampton's 3-0 home win against Leicester on 22 January 2017.
  • Stoke's tally of five points after six matches is their third worst start since they returned to the top flight a decade ago.
  • Saido Berahino has gone 582 days (32 games) without a goal, with his last goal coming for West Brom against Palace on Feb 27th 2016.

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