Stoke have a free-kick deep in Southampton territory. Practically a corner. They have to make the most of these you feel, they're hardly seeing the ball in open play.

The free-kick's cleared but by a Saints head and it's a corner - pressure builds - but the away side clear.

Xherdan Shaqiri has a go at himself as he trundles off to be replaced by Mame Biram Diouf. 

Steven Davis wastes another chance with a poor shot. 

Shaqiri slams his first into one of the comfy seats in the Stoke dugout.

Off the line by Erik Pieters - Nathan Redmond flicked on a corner and the Stoke man had to stoop to nod away with Shane Long ready to jump in to finish.

Pass. Pass. Pass. 

Stoke are camped so deep there's little space to do much else. 

But Nathan Redmond is played in by a lovely Sofiane Boufal chip down the left and crosses low, Lee Grant parries out and the home side side scramble away for a corner.

Image source, Getty Images

So instead of the dink from James Ward-Prowse Virgil van Dijk goes to leather it - but his booming effort smashes into the Stoke wall and away.

On the replay you can see it's diverted by Charlie Adam's elbow - but calling that handball would be harsh. It was close to his body.

Free-kick right on the edge of the Stoke box - James Ward-Prowse does his best to fall inside the box but Erik Pieters caught him late a few centimetres further up the park. 

So close to the edge that it's actually harder to get it up and over the wall...

Yes thank you please. Fraser Forster will gobble up that kind of lofted cross all day long. Charlie Adam and Stoke will have to change tact. 

Southampton reverting back to that familiar pattern as the ball moves quickly across the park under their spell. But will they actually create something with it this half? 

We are back under way... 

No changes.

Well, that's your lot for the first half. I can't think of many who'd object. That was not great.

Image source, Reuters

TWO minutes added on. It'd be nice to get a shot.

I think I've let myself be taken in by Nathan Redmond and Sofiane Boufal a touch. It looks good, but doesn't actually achieve much. 

Redmond's actually been guilty of wasting the ball quite a lot, and is so sloppy here as he gets caught offside on the touchline.

Southampton are having loads of the ball but failing to deliver when it really matters. 

Steven Davis balloons a cross into oblivion with four men in the box to aim at after a move of about 30 passes.

Under FIVE to go before the break. We're yet to see a decent attempt on goal.

Image source, Reuters

Sofiane Boufal looks a player. Some lovely sweet touches, but now as I say that he lets his team down with a poorly directed cross-field pass looking for Cuco Martina when there was loads of space on the overlap. 

Bruno Martins Indi has apparently been felled by Shane Long. Nothing in it on first and second glance at least - but the towering Dutch centre-back really did crumple. He's had to trot off but will be fine to carry on. 

Even if he does, it's James Ward-Prowse with it, struck straight at Lee Grant. Tame.

Free-kick Southampton. Central. About 10 yards from the edge of the box.

Joe Allen is not a happy man but he's going in the book for a late slide that takes all of Oriol Romeu and none of the ball. 

Will Sofiane Boufal fancy this?

Southampton back with it and Stoke looking to soak up pressure with men behind the ball.

There's no space in front of their deep lines so Ryan Bertrand takes a swipe at goal but it's way, way over.

Looks like Charlie Adam has switched out wide to take up Mark Arnautovic's now abandoned post. 

Joe Allen and Xherdan Shaqiri making Southampton chase it in the middle of the park. They're adjusting well, Stoke. 

Signs of Stoke rallying against adversity. Erik Pieters battles hard enough down the left to work a cross across the box that Ryan Bertrand very gingerly stabs at, trying to clear the danger. Not convincing. 

The Stoke fans weren't too happy though - and as Oriol Romeu goes in hard on Joe Allen they are up in arms. 

The Southampton midfielder gets a yellow. That looked like a fair 50-50.