Stoke City come from 1-0 down to defeat Southampton at the Britannia Stadium

• Stoke 2-1 Southampton - in pictures >>
• Stoke 2-1 Southampton - as it happened >>
• Stoke 2-1 Southampton - Toby Alderweireld's injury >>
• Stoke 2-1 Southampton - Ronald Koeman's comment >>

Before the game Ronald Koeman said his side almost certainly needed to win all of their final six matches to have a shot at the Champions League.

It looked as though they were on course to make a positive start to that task as Morgan Schneiderlin gave them the lead during an impressive first half display.

However, Stoke took control in the second period and goals from Mame Biram Diouf and Charlie Adam condemned Saints to defeat.

Stoke had the first meaningful attack in the game as Mame Biram Diouf stole in down the left and cut the ball back to Steven Nzonzi. He tried an ambitious side footed effort from outside the area but his shot went well over the bar.

Sadio Mane got a bit of stick from the crowd after going down in slightly dramatic fashion in the area under a challenge from Stephen Ireland but in fairness to the Senegalese attacking midfielder he didn’t appeal for a penalty.

The pattern of the game was not totally unexpected with Stoke making it a very tough physical battle, particularly in midfield.

They were also varying their play from knocking it around patiently to being very direct.

Jose Fonte was in the book after 15 minutes, chopping down Diouf as he threatened to break in behind after a loose pass back from a Saints player.

Saints came so close to taking the lead two minutes later as Mane spun in behind his man and slid a pass straight into the path of Graziano Pelle in the area.

He had to take it first time but from 12 yards out could only hit the side netting.

Saints made no mistake on 22 minutes as they took the lead.

It came from a set-piece, often mentioned as Stokes’s great strength.

Steven Davis put in an outswinging right wing corner that was flicked across goal at the near post by Jose Fonte.

It appeared that the ball might be going in anyway but Morgan Schneiderlin appeared on the scene unmarked at the far post and slammed the ball home from a yard out to make sure.

They had another good chance on 32 minutes as Saints broke quickly through Mane.

He played the ball outside him to Toby Alderweireld, who checked back inside onto his left foot and just in the area hit a low shot that was straight at Asmir Begovic.

The opportunities kept coming and this time it was Nathaniel Clyne who made a break down the right to meet a lay off in the area but from a tight angle he put over the bar.

Clyne went in the book moments later for a fierce challenge.

Stoke should have equalised three minutes before the break as they somehow missed a glorious chance.

It came from a free kick that was lifted into the area, flicked on and fell to Nzonzi on the volley just a few yards out. Pretty much anything on target was a goal but he barely made any contact as he directed it wide.

Stoke made a change at the break to try and get a little more attacking threat with Charlie Adam coming on for Ireland.

They did just that as they equalised two minutes after the restart.

It came in somewhat bizarre fashion.

Nzonzi’s attempted shot from the edge of the area was mishit and the ball sailed high into the air.

There seemed to be little danger as Kelvin Davis gently back peddled but he was eventually relieved to see that as the ball suddenly dipped it struck his crossbar.

However, that left him out of position for the rebound which fell kindly to Diouf who lashed home a half volley from eight yards out with Davis diving to his left but unable to reach it.

Saints worked another nice set-piece on 55 minutes as Steven Davis fizzed a corner to Schneiderlin whose headed straight into the centre of the area but nobody reacted and Begovic was able to gather.

They came closer to regaining the lead on 63 minutes as Steven Davis unleashed a great pass down the right channel to Mane.

He was in behind the Stoke defence and had the chance to take Begovic out of the game as he won a foot race to the ball virtually on the by-line on the edge of the box.

Mane did just that and cut it back towards Tadic whose shot from 12 yards out was blocked on the line by Glenn Whelan.

The Serbian playmaker got a second bite of the cherry as the ball wasn’t cleared but Begovic was now back in his goal and saved diving low to his right.

That was virtually Tadic’s last action as he came off for James Ward-Prowse on 67 minutes.

There was a flashpoint five minutes later as Alderweireld went down after getting an arm in the face from Adam but referee Mark Clattenburg awarded Saints a free kick and took no further action.

Stoke made a double change on 76 minutes with Steve Sidwell and Peter Crouch replacing Whelan and Diouf.

Crouch was quickly into the thick of the action as he was picked out by a left wing cross but could only tamely flick a header straight to Kelvin Davis.

The keeper was well and truly beaten though as Stoke took the lead with six minutes remaining.

After Saints had failed to adequately clear a free kick the ball eventually got worked to the right by-line and cut back to Nzonzi. His first time shot was blocked but the rebound came to Adam whose volley fired into the turf and past Davis for 2-1.

Saints responded by bringing on Shane Long for Ryan Bertrand before Eljero Elia came on for Steven Davis.

Crouch had a glorious chance to wrap up the win at the start of four minutes of stoppage time as Jon Walters got to the by-line and cut the ball back to him but from six yards out he missed the target.

Alderweireld was caught in the face again late by a flailing arm by Erik Pieters. Saints were unhappy with it but again Clattenburg just awarded a free kick.

However, after extensive treatment Alderweireld had to be stretchered from the pitch, leaving his side with ten men for the final moments which eventually ended with Saints looking crestfallen as defeat was confirmed.