Southampton 3-1 Stoke City: Saints strike late to beat Potters
Report and free match highlights from the Sky Bet Championship match between Southampton and Stoke City at St Mary's on Saturday; Divin Mubama and Ryan Manning's penalty seal late win for Tonda Eckert's Saints.
Saturday 22 August 2026 17:14, UK
Divin Mubama scored a dramatic late goal on his home debut to help Southampton to a 3-1 victory over former club Stoke.
Almost a year ago, the Manchester City loan striker was sent off for Stoke at St Mary's for diving.
Here, he was the hero as Saints dug deep to preserve an unbeaten home run which stretches back to January.
Ryan Manning also scored an injury-time penalty after Svante Ingelsson was sent off for bringing down Samuel Edozie.
Cyle Larin bagged his third goal in as many games to give Tonda Eckert's side an early lead but Stoke hit back through Ethan Galbraith and looked good value for a point.
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Taylor Harwood-Bellis was conspicuous by his absence from the squad after Southampton rejected an £18million offer from Aston Villa during the week.
Unai Emery is said to be preparing an improved bid for the once-capped England defender.
Stoke boss Mark Robins handed debuts to George Hirst, who this week joined from Ipswich for £7million, and Ben Johnson who has joined on loan from the Tractor Boys, with Djibril Soumare also starting his first game for the club.
Ahead of kick-off, there was a minute of applause for Kevin Keegan, the former Southampton and England forward who died last month.
Saints took the lead with their first attack when neat approach play between Finn Azaz and Flynn Downes saw Larin break through down the middle and the Canadian calmy slotted past Viktor Johansson.
Stoke responded well and Hirst was soon presented with a clear sight of goal before Nathan Wood cleared the danger with a brilliant last-ditch tackle.
Stoke levelled soon afterwards when summer signing Galbraith scored his first goal since joining from Swansea as he converted Sam Gallagher's low cross after excellent work from Bae Jun-ho in the build-up.
Both sides continued to threaten and there was little to choose between them, though Southampton were beginning to enjoy more possession.
A clever pass from Manning again found Larin but this time Johnson covered his run superbly to deflect the shot wide of the post.
Tonda Eckert's side then struck a post when Leo Scienza's free-kick deflected off Johnson's back as the home side piled on the pressure.
The next chance again went the way of Larin, once again laid on by Azaz and this time Johansson did well to turn his powerful effort around the post.
But in the 89th minute, a brilliant move involving Lewis Dobbin and Azaz set up a chance for Mubama, which he expertly converted.
Then, in the fourth added minute, Edozie broke free and was brought tumbling down by Ingelsson, and Manning made no mistake with the spot-kick.
