Southampton 1 Middlesbrough 0: Boufal the difference at St Mary´s

A deflected strike from Sofiane Boufal helped Southampton to a first home Premier League win over Middlesbrough for 20 years as they claimed a 1-0 victory at St Mary’s Stadium on Sunday.

The winger had yet to score in the league following his big-money move from Lille during the close-season, but he broke his duck in fine fashion with a long-range shot into the top-left corner early in the second half to secure the points.

Southampton were desperate to return to winning ways after last week’s 3-0 defeat at the hands of Crystal Palace and their Europa League elimination on Thursday.

History was against the hosts, though, with Southampton having not beaten Middlesbrough at home in the Premier League since September 1996.

1996 – Southampton haven’t won a Premier League home game against Middlesbrough since winning 4-0 in September 1996. Memories. pic.twitter.com/HqTSiBTyoy

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 11, 2016

And Middlesbrough had good reason to be confident heading into the game, having lost just one of their last six Premier League outings.

But Aitor Karanka’s men failed to build on their solid run of form as they were second-best for much of the game and were unable to mount a response after Boufal’s ultimately decisive strike.

Middlesbrough had the first chance to open the scoring when Viktor Fischer found Jordan Rhodes after somehow squeezing past Cuco Martina, but the striker failed to beat goalkeeper Fraser Forster from close range.

Jordy Clasie then threatened twice for Southampton, shooting wide on both occasions, before Jay Rodriguez tested Boro shot stopper Victor Valdes with a low shot at his near post as Southampton slowly grew into the game.

James Ward-Prowse should perhaps have broken the deadlock on the half-hour mark after a sublime cross from Dusan Tadic, but the unmarked midfielder sent his header wide of the target.

Saints nearly fell behind when Fischer rounded Forster after racing onto a poor backpass, only for the Denmark international to then hit the right-hand upright from a narrow angle, with Cristhian Stuani unable to find the net from the rebound.

Boufal was unfortunate to have an attempt blocked by Calum Chambers early in the second half, but there was no denying the Morocco international in the 53rd minute.

The 23-year-old took aim from the edge of the area after being set up by Ward-Prowse, producing a fierce effort that deflected off Chambers, leaving Valdes with no chance.

Rodriguez would have doubled Southampton’s lead had his header from a corner not been cleared off the line.

He was presented with a second opportunity to make it 2-0 deep into stoppage time, only for the forward to inexplicably fire wide from point-blank range following good work from Nathan Redmond.

Key Opta stats:

– Middlesbrough have netted just six goals in their last eight Premier League games and overall had scored a league-low 13 in the competition this season.
– Saints have lost just one of their last 13 home league games, winning eight and drawing four.
– Middlesbrough have registered just one win in their last 21 Premier League games away from home, drawing six and losing 14.
– Jay Rodriguez completed 90 minutes in a Premier League game for the first time since March 2014 v Newcastle (988 days ago).