Sparta Prague 1-0 Southampton
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Southampton have scored in only one of their last nine games on the road in Europe
Southampton's Europa League fate will go down to the final group game after losing away to Sparta Prague.
Costa Nhamoinesu's early close-range volley from a tight angle after Borek Dockal's free-kick sealed a deserved win for the hosts.
Southampton, who made seven changes to the side that started the goalless draw with Liverpool last weekend, were lacklustre throughout and it required two fine saves from Fraser Forster to deny Dockal.
Saints skipper Virgil van Dijk headed a great chance to equalise over the bar in the closing stages as Sparta advanced as group winners to the last 32 with one game to spare.
Southampton will join Sparta if they manage a goalless draw or a win against Hapoel Be'er Sheva in their final group game at St Mary's on 8 December.
Saints pay the price for toothless display
Southampton have not scored in any of their three away games in the group, and rarely looked like doing so in the Czech Republic.
Despite the changes, Saints manager Claude Puel named an attacking line-up, with Jay Rodriguez, Nathan Redmond and Shane Long all starting.
Though their presence provided plenty of pace, there was little cutting edge and the Premier League club's build-up play was too slow.
Southampton's Sam McQueen reacts after missing a chance against Sparta Prague
Southampton had 71% possession - their highest figure in a game in any competition this season - and 12 attempts on goal but had nothing to show for it.
There will also be questions asked after defender Costa scored Sparta's winner unchallenged.
It came after a well-worked set-piece but Saints players Cuco Martina and Jordy Clasie both failed to react when the ball was delivered into the area.
What Southampton need to advance
Southampton's final group game is against Israeli side Hapoel Be'er-Sheva, who came from 2-0 down to win 3-2 against Inter Milan, a result which sends the three-time European champions out.
The Saints and Hapoel are tied on seven points meaning whoever wins will take them through.
Head-to-head is used to decide which side advances when teams are on the same number of points.
Southampton managed a goalless draw when the teams met in Israel on 29 September so goal difference will be used if there is a repeat of that result in two weeks.
Puel's side have a superior goal difference over Hapoel so will advance if it ends 0-0.
However, if Hapoel manage a score draw at St Mary's then they will progress due to the fact they managed to score away from home against their opponents.
Man of the Match - Fraser Forster (Southampton)
There were plenty of man of the match contenders for Sparta but for Southampton there was just one. The Saints have Fraser Forster to thank for avoiding a heavier defeat in the Czech Republic. Forster was exposed by his defence time and again yet produced several fine saves to keep the score down.
'Hard to accept'
Southampton boss Claude Puel: "It's a bad result. We made a good start in the game, but then on the first free-kick we take a goal against us and this is hard to accept.
"I think we played a good first half without a clinical edge, but after we lost the structure in the second half to keep our calm. It was not enough to win this game.
"Now it's important to keep our concentration. It's a final game in front of our fans. We have to play a very good game for the next game at home to make sure we qualify, for the players and fans."
Defensive problems?
Southampton are the first English side to lose away to Sparta Prague in the last eight attempts (since Watford lost 4-0 in 1983).
The Saints have conceded in each of their last four games on the road (in all competitions), after keeping three clean sheets in a row before that.
Sparta Prague have scored in each of their last 13 home games in Europe.
Claude Puel's side have now failed to score in eight of their last nine European away games.
What's next?
Southampton entertain former boss Ronald Koeman and his Everton team at St Mary's Stadium on Sunday (16:30 GMT).
Reaction
Around 2,000 Southampton fans were in Prague
- Published19 November 2016
- Published17 November 2016
