A WONDER strike from Stuart Armstrong was enough to give Saints all three points in a 1-0 win at Stoke City on Tuesday night.

Armstrong netted a stunning free-kick that he won himself to give the travelling contingent the lead just before the break.

Stoke were on top for a lot of the game and could have made Saints pay but for strong defending from partnership Jan Bednarek and Taylor Harwood-Bellis.

Sekou Mara should have made it comfortable in the closing stages but he fired wide with a one-on-one that condemned Saints to a nervy 10 minutes of added time.

But Russell Martin’s side came through the test to leave the home fans furious with some of the refereeing decisions given against them.

Saints had lost all four midweek league games in 2023 without scoring a goal prior to this, but made it back-to-back victories in the Championship.

Saints named an unchanged starting team from Saturday’s 3-1 win over Leeds United; the first time Martin had done so this season.

Martin had hinted at changes in personnel and system after the Leeds match but stuck with the diamond that shocked former manager Daniel Farke at St Mary’s.

Stoke lined up without starting defenders Michael Rose and Lyndon Gooch after injury during their victory over Bristol City last time out.

They were just two of more than half-a-dozen absentees boss Alex Neil, who also managed Martin as a player, was having to contend with.

It was the home side who were on top and Saints had to firm a nervy opening as Gavin Bazunu sliced a clearance to danger and Will Smallbone’s loss in possession conceded a counter chance.

Ryan Manning cut across for a last-ditch clearance, and Kyle Walker-Peters later produced a similar intervention after a flick from Sead Haksabanovic threatened to leave Nathan Lowe with the goal at his mercy yards out.

Charly Alcaraz and Adam Armstrong looked to force the ball into the box before the Argentine was tripped, but nothing was given, and later Armstrong’s low shot was touched behind by Mark Travers and missed by referee James Bell.

That did not stop Bell from being on the receiving end of an outstandingly grim atmosphere as a result of the home fans though, with Southampton’s big moment of the first half coming from his decision.

Scotland international Armstrong channelled his inner James Ward-Prowse to fire a curl a 25-yard right-footed free-kick in off the underside of the crossbar to open the scores just before heading into half-time.

Armstrong could have had a second just after the interval, as Saints emerged unchanged, but his close-range header was blocked behind.

AFC Bournemouth loanee Travers denied Kamaldeen a first goal of the season, and Saints a two-goal lead, with a strong left foot after Flynn Downes had slipped him in.

Bednarek, who defended sternly, was let off as he wrapped arms around Lowe and appeared to pull him to the ground in the box as Daniel Johnson tested Bazunu.

Stoke remained on top of Saints for much of the second half but substitute Mara, receiving from fellow substitute Joe Aribo, put narrowly wide with a golden chance to seal it in the final 10 minutes.

An additional 10 minutes were added and Mason Holgate was called on to bolster the defence. Bazunu exhibited safe hands and some delayed goal kicks to see Saints through - before tempers flared on the pitch at full time. 

Stoke City: Travers; Pearson, Johnson, Wilmot (Thompson, 59), Hoever (Wesley, 74), Haksabanovic (Junho, 70), McNally, Tchamadeu, Leris, Laurent, Lowe (Burger, 70).

Unused subs: Bonham, Fielding, Gayle, Jojic, Sidibe.

Booked: Pearson, Hoever, Johnson.

Saints: Bazunu; Walker-Peters, Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Manning; Downes, Smallbone (Holgate, 93), S Armstrong (Aribo, 81), Alcaraz (Fraser, 72); A Armstrong (Charles, 81), Kamaldeen (Mara, 72).

Unused subs: McCarthy, Adams, Bree, Edozie.

Booked: Downes.

Referee: James Bell.