Stoke edged a nervous final-day encounter as they beat Southampton 1-0 in a game that neither side looked like winning until Peter Crouch rose to secure three points. The Potters started poorly in an unfamiliar 3-4-3 formation that caused them all manner of problems, gifting space and time to the opposition to send the ball into their penalty area virtually unopposed.
Stoke somehow managed to hang on until the break and reemerged for the second half back in Mark Hughes' tried-and-trusted shape of 4-2-3-1, which immediately got them a foothold in the game.
On the hour mark, a pin-point cross from Geoff Cameron saw Crouch's eyes light up to score his 50th headed goal in the Premier League and with Jack Butland performing heroics at the other end, Hughes was finally able to claim his 150th win as a Premier League manager.
Positives
The timely change in shape meant that Xherdan Shaqiri finally got his chance in the No. 10 role. He only had 45 minutes to impress there and arguably did not have the kind of pace in the final third needed to fully work his magic, but it was an encouraging performance nonetheless.
Negatives
Southampton were poor on the day and while Butland was kept busy, in truth a decent side would have been two or three goals ahead in the opening exchanges while the players floundered in the manager's latest foreign formation.
Manager rating out of 10
5 -- Needlessly changed formations to one that demands the kind of attributes in players he just doesn't have at his disposal. Rescued the game at half-time by switching tactics and moving Shaqiri into a central role, though the substitution of Mame Diouf for an ineffective Jon Walters was entirely unnecessary.
Player ratings (1-10; 10 = best; players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating)
GK Jack Butland, 9 -- So nearly gifted the opposition a goal by overplaying, but went on to put in a man-of-the-match performance with a host of impressive saves to protect his side's lead.
DF Geoff Cameron, 8 -- Suffered more than most in the first half as the right-sided defender of the back three, but it was his inch-perfect cross that found Crouch to put the team ahead.
DF Ryan Shawcross, 7 -- Was bailed out on a few occasions in the first half by his defensive midfielders, but played much better once the formation was tweaked amid a busy afternoon in defence.
DF Bruno Martins Indi, 7 -- Managed to get a toe on a couple of balls that looked to have eluded him in the first half but struggled for pace, somewhat. His distribution was as positive as ever, though, with plenty of driven passes into congested areas.
MF Mame Diouf, 6 -- Was hung out to dry at wing-back, but still managed to be a threat in front of goal with four attempts -- the first after just 20 seconds. Despite that, the manager somehow saw fit to substitute him and once off the pitch, his pace was missed.
MF Glenn Whelan, 8 -- Put in one of his best games in recent times, as he got his colleagues out of trouble with some disciplined tracking of his man in the first half, arguably stopping what would have been two shots on goal in decent areas.
MF Joe Allen, 8 -- Made several telling interceptions and tackles in the middle to turn over possession and start moves forward. Was effective at keeping things simple.
MF Erik Pieters, 6 -- Struggled as a wing-back and didn't fare much better when shifted into a back four, either. Got into some good positions, but was let down by his delivery from wide.
FW Xherdan Shaqiri, 8 -- Was tetchy and frustrated out wide in the first 45 minutes but revelled in the No. 10 role after the break, where he saw much more of the ball to play some brilliant passes into the final third.
FW Peter Crouch, 7 -- Was let down on occasion by a (complete) lack of pace, but will always work the keeper at the far post when he gets the right service.
FW Ramadan Sobhi, 6 -- Didn't make the most of his chance to impress with a subdued showing over on the left. His skill made up for a lack of pace, but it was all outside of the penalty area.
Substitutes
MF Marc Muniesa, N/R -- Was a late change to help protect the lead.
FW Jon Walters, 5 -- Failed to make an impact from out wide and was also poor in the air, losing four of the five aerial duels he contested.