Southampton missed the chance to move up to third place in the Premier League table on Sunday as they were beaten 1-0 at home by Swansea City.
Despite being under pressure for much of the game, the visitors snatched the points with seven minutes left when Jonjo Shelvey found the top corner from 25 yards.
It got worse for the home side before the end of the game, with Ryan Bertrand sent off for a reckless challenge on Modou Barrow.
Here, Sports Mole takes a closer look at the action on an intriguing afternoon of football at St Mary's Stadium.
Match statistics
SOUTHAMPTON
Shots: 15
On target: 6
Possession: 63%
Corners: 9
Fouls: 11
SWANSEA
Shots: 6
On target: 1
Possession: 37%
Corners: 0
Fouls: 9
Was the result fair?
Southampton will be scratching their heads, wondering just how they failed to beat Swansea. The hosts had the majority of possession and the better chances, but a lack of finishing cost them dearly in the end. Meanwhile, the visitors just about hung in there and found the net with their only effort on target.
Southampton's performance
The Saints were in excellent form in the first half as they took the game to Swansea. Ronald Koeman's side played at a high tempo, using the width of the pitch to stretch their opponents. The likes of Eljero Elia and Nathaniel Clyne enjoyed plenty of the ball and caused Swansea lots of problems at the back.
The midfield also proved fruitful, with possession being monopolised by the hosts. However, they were missing that killer touch to turn their dominance into a goal. It was a similar story in the second half, but an element of frustration crept into their play as the clock ticked down.
Patience among players and supporters soon turned to agitation before Shelvey struck late on. The boos from fans at the end seemed misplaced because Southampton had worked hard throughout. It was just one of those of those days where they could not find a breakthrough.
Swansea's performance
Swansea's display was defined by some heroic defending from Ashley Williams and his colleagues. The visitors were forced back inside their own half for large chunks of the game, but they dealt with everything that Southampton threw at them. It was only with about 25 minutes left that they began to venture forward, with the pace of Nathan Dyer and Barrow posing the home side a few issues.
When the decisive moment came, it was special: Shelvey's strike was fit to win any game. While it was not the prettiest of performances from the away side, Garry Monk will be absolutely delighted with how his players stayed resolute and patient before coming good.
Sports Mole's man of the match
Ashley Williams: The Swansea captain was an incredibly solid presence at the back for the visitors, blocking, kicking and heading everything that came his way. The Swans were put under a lot of pressure for the duration of the encounter, but Williams was there time and again to ease the danger with his bravery and experience.
Biggest gaffe
Bertrand lost his head at the end of the match, getting sent off for a reckless challenge on Barrow that forced the Swansea man to be stretchered off the pitch.. The full-back had enjoyed a decent game up until that point, but he blotted his copybook with a moment of madness.
Referee performance
Michael Oliver had endured a tumultuous night at Stamford Bridge, but this was a more routine afternoon for the official. He was lenient for the most part, allowing the game to flow at an exciting pace. His biggest call came at the end of the match when Bertrand lunged in on Barrow, and he made the right decision to send the Southampton defender off.
What next?
Southampton: The Saints are back in action on Saturday when they travel to Queens Park Rangers in the league.
Swansea: The Swans continue their Premier League campaign on Saturday with the visit of Sunderland.
Jack Prescott
