Southampton 0 Stoke 1: Claude Puel set for sack after poor show at St Mary's

Saints failed to score in the final 455 minutes of football at St Mary’s as their season fizzled out and, despite an eighth-placed finish, it is thought they will sever their ties with the Frenchman.

Fans jeered the former Monaco boss with chants of “you don’t know what you’re doing” and “you’re getting sacked in the morning”. 

Some of the supporters that remained for the team’s lap of appreciation chose to boo Puel as he made his way around the pitch.

“The fans wanted to win, wanted goals to finish the season. It’s normal. The fans sometimes are not satisfied and for us it’s the same,” said Puel.

Chairman Ralph Krueger refused to give the manager his backing when asked to do so last week, saying Puel’s future would be the subject of an end-of-season review. 

But Puel feels his team’s league finish and League Cup final appearance make for a positive season.

“It’s a good thing, a positive to finish eighth. All the good teams finished in the first places of the table,” he said.

“My players were fantastic this season, often without a good reward. This attitude is fantastic and it is good for the future.”

Peter Crouch scored the only goal after an hour when he towered above Saints’ Cedric Soares to become the first player in Premier League history to score 50 headers.

“We all know if you give Crouchy the correct service he’s the best in the business at what he does,” said Stoke boss Mark Hughes.

“We thoroughly deserved the victory but we had Jack Butland to thank for making key saves at key times.”