Inch-perfect Armstrong sees off Stoke

Armstrong’s set-piece lit up a subdued opening period, beating Bournemouth loanee Mark Travers with an inch-perfect 25-yard strike four minutes before half time.

Saints’ best spell arrived early in the second half, as Armstrong, Kamaldeen Sulemana and Carlos Alcaraz all had chances to double the lead, before substitute Sékou Mara spurned a golden opportunity to kill the game, but Saints held firm for a very welcome first clean sheet of the season.

Russell Martin named an unchanged starting line-up for the first time as Saints manager in response to his team’s electrifying first-half display against Leeds, who were dismantled at St Mary’s three days ago.

The black-shirted visitors showed their intent straight from kick-off, as Kamaldeen set off on a run down the left that carried him past two defenders and must have had Stoke right-back Ki-Jana Hoever wondering what sort of night he was in for.

Stoke responded with a good spell, forcing a trio of early corners, but shots from Ben Pearson and Sead Hakšabanović were wild and off target.

Kamaldeen was Saints’ livewire. Hoever needed help, and was in trouble every time he was left one v one with the winger, who delivered a teasing cross with the outside of his boot that was begging for a finish.

Kamaldeen Sulemana dazzled in the first half at Stoke

When Saints got their passing right, when it was quick and crisp, they sliced through Stoke. One move started by Gavin Bazunu’s clipped ball from the right was carried at pace by Kyle Walker-Peters, before Stuart Armstrong teed up Kamaldeen, but his shot was high and wide.

Stoke’s best moment to date arrived soon after, when Mehdi Léris crossed from the right for Nathan Lowe, but the 18-year-old’s header was comfortably saved on his first senior start.

Just as the half seemed to be meandering towards its conclusion, Armstrong picked up possession and drove towards the penalty area, where he was brought down 25 yards out.

This was very much James Ward-Prowse territory, a position from which Saints have rarely won a free-kick since his departure, so the first question was who would take it?

Alcaraz stepped away from the ball, prompting Armstrong and Ryan Manning to size it up, but the angle marginally favoured the right footer.

Up stepped the Scot, who could hardly have struck it sweeter, as the ball curled away from Travers’s dive, and just kissed the crossbar on its way in, as Armstrong set off towards the Saints bench in celebration, jumping into the arms of his manager.

Stuart Armstrong's 41st-minute free-kick finds the top corner

With only four minutes left of the half, Stoke still found time to threaten an equaliser when left-back Junior Tchamadeu unleashed a skidding shot that whistled just past Bazunu’s left-hand post with the keeper at full stretch.

As the natives claimed a corner, referee James Bell blew for half time, much to the frustration of the home crowd, who were already aggrieved by the decision to award Saints the free-kick from which Armstrong had just made the breakthrough.

The goalscorer was in the right place to add to his tally two minutes into the second period when he was perfectly picked out by namesake Adam, but his close-range header was blocked – perhaps unwittingly – by defender Luke McNally, who didn’t seem to know an awful lot about it.

Saints were searching for the second goal that may have deflated Stoke, and when Flynn Downes slid the ball through for Kamaldeen he looked odds-on to provide it, only for Travers to make a crucial stop whilst Ben Wilmot collided with his own goalpost.

Cue a lengthy delay whilst the centre-back received treatment, ultimately unable to continue, before the action resumed with Manning’s corner met by Alcaraz, who ought to have done better than direct his header straight at the keeper.

As it was, Stoke were still in it as the game edged past the hour mark. Daniel Johnson’s deflected cross caused temporary panic, but Bazunu did well to pounce on the ball at the second attempt.

Stuart Armstrong's header is blocked by Stoke defender Luke McNally

Martin turned to his bench with 18 minutes left as the match began to drift, in the hope Ryan Fraser and Mara could give his attack an extra spark, while opposite number Alex Neil sent on Wesley as a supplementary striker, knowing his team were still alive in the contest.

The Brazilian, once Aston Villa’s club-record signing, immediately got his head to a dangerous cross with a glancing touch that sailed wide.

But it was Saints who had the best chance to add the night’s elusive second goal when fellow substitute Aribo picked out Mara at the end of a slick counter, but the Frenchman went for power on his left foot and shot wide of the near post.

That led to an anxious finish, particularly when ten added minutes were signalled, largely due to the earlier injury to Wilmot, but Bazunu saved from Wouter Burger and richly deserved his first clean sheet of the campaign.

Stoke: Travers, Hoever (Wesley 74), Wilmot (Thompson 59), McNally, Tchamadeu, Laurent (c) (Burger 70), Pearson, Johnson, Léris, Lowe, Hakšabanović (Junho 70).

Subs not used: Bonham, Fielding, Jojić, Sidibe, Gayle.

Yellow cards: Hoever, Pearson, Johnson, Léris.

Saints: Bazunu, Walker-Peters, Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Manning, Downes, Smallbone (Holgate 90), S. Armstrong (Charles 81), A. Armstrong (c) (Aribo 81), Alcaraz (Mara 72), Kamaldeen (Fraser 72).

Subs not used: McCarthy, Bree, Edozie, Adams.

Goals: S. Armstrong (41)

Yellow cards: Downes

Referee: James Bell

Attendance: 20,002