Boufal cracker sees off Boro

Southampton put their Europa League agony behind them as they returned to winning ways with a 1-0 success over Middlesbrough at St Mary's on Sunday.

Southampton 1 Middlesbrough 0
Forster denies Rhodes early on
Valdes keeps out Rodriguez
Score remains goalless at half-time
Boufal scores cracking winner

Match Summary

Claude Puel's side were knocked out of Europe by Hapoel Be'er Sheva in dramatic fashion on Thursday, which came on the back of a disappointing 3-0 defeat to Crystal Palace last weekend.

But they bounced back with a stunning goal from Sofiane Boufal early in the second half, which lit up an otherwise a dreary encounter with very few clear-cut chances created at either end.

Full Report

It was a dull first half on the south coast as both teams only managed one shot on target each.

The visitors made a promising start, though, with Jordan Rhodes testing Fraser Forster early on after being picked out by Viktor Fischer in the fourth minute.

Jordy Clasie then had the next two chances for the Saints, but failed to hit the target on both occasions, although he went close with his first opportunity in the 12th minute that went just past the right post.

Clasie almost turned provider on 20 minutes as his cross found Jay Rodriguez, whose shot from inside the box was saved by Victor Valdes.

Some desperate defending from the home team on 34 minutes kept Boro at bay as Virgil van Dijk, Jose Fonte and Sam McQueen made crucial blocks to deny Fischer and Cristhian Stuani respectively in quick succession.

The second half started brighter as the Saints threatened just three minutes after the restart, Fonte heading over from seven yards out having got on the end of James Ward-Prowse's inswinging corner.

Rhodes then went for the spectacular on 51 minutes as he found space inside the opposition half, but he blazed well over from all of 30 yards out.

Boufal showed Rhodes how it's done three minutes later, however, when he received a pass from Ward-Prowse and lashed a left-footed shot inside the left post from 19 yards out to open his account for his new club.

The Saints looked more likely to score again and Rodriguez came close on 81 minutes as he connected with Ward-Prowse's corner, but saw his header cleared off the line by Adam Clayton.

Rodriguez was a whisker away from adding a second in stoppage time when he was picked at by Nathan Redmond, but directed the ball just over the crossbar from a few yards out.