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Arnautovic's red card was the fastest sending off in the Premier League this season

Stoke held Southampton to a goalless draw despite having Marko Arnautovic sent off in Mark Hughes' 400th match as a Premier League manager.

The away side had plenty of possession but struggled to create chances in a poor game, with Arnautovic seeing red for a studs-up challenge in the 23rd minute.

Saints substitute Jay Rodriguez missed the game's best opening when he failed to make contact with Sofiane Boufal's second-half low cross.

James Ward-Prowse had a chance to strike the winner from close range after a Glen Johnson error, but his shot was deflected wide.

The point moves Southampton up to ninth, while Hughes' Stoke stay in 12th.

Saints fail to take advantage

After the red card, Southampton dominated possession but they failed to make the numerical advantage tell.

Claude Puel's side were tidy on the ball and there was some lovely build-up play, but at the end of every well-constructed move the final delivery was lacking.

Ryan Bertrand tested Lee Grant with a powerful drive from the edge of the box in one of the few times Southampton went direct, but Rodriguez's miss was the crucial moment.

Southampton had 15 shots on goal - with only four on target. In the graphic above, those are green, shots off target are red and blocked shots are yellow

After Joe Allen was robbed by Steven Davis, Boufal's cross only needed a simple finish, but the 27-year-old forward failed to connect, seemingly caught in two minds over which foot to go in with.

One for Stoke to forget too

Arnautovic's red card was greeted with jeers by the home crowd, but his studs were up high on Boufal's thigh and his challenge was late.

Hughes will argue that his side were hamstrung by the sending off, but Stoke did not threaten at all after Allen's low prod at the near post was put behind by Fraser Forster's boot inside six minutes.

Xherdan Shaqiri put in a disappointing performance and pummelled one of the seats in the Stoke dugout with his fist after being replaced by Mame Biram Diouf in the second half, having contributed very little.

In truth, Stoke were fortunate to hold on, and the draw owed more to Southampton's poor finishing than their own defending.

Johnson's heavy touch in his own box should have been punished with a better finish from Ward-Prowse, and Allen's hesitancy led to the game's only true clear-cut opportunity.

Hughes' 400 Premier League games P W D L F A Win % 400 144 108 148 505 524 36.1

It was not a happy occasion for Hughes on a landmark night.

The former Blackburn, Manchester City, Fulham and QPR boss' 400th match in charge in the English top flight will not live long in the memory.

Hughes' win percentage is 36%. That puts him level with Alan Pardew but below Harry Redknapp (37%) and David Moyes (41%).

Man of the match - (Sofiane Boufal)

Southampton's brightest performer in front of Stoke's deep defensive lines showed some impressive touches

What they said

Stoke manager Mark Hughes on Arnautovic's red card: "It's unfortunate because he obviously caught him high on the thigh but the ball was bouncing around and it wasn't a violent movement to take the player out.

"The ref wasn't great on the night, he missed a number of decisions and clearly missed an elbow from Shane Long on Bruno Martins Indi - that needs looking at again.

"Overall the ref put us in a situation and we had to show real work ethic and understanding of what was required. Given the circumstances, the point we gained was magnificent."

Southampton manager Claude Puel: "We're disappointed. Eleven against 10 you have to do better. In the first half we were too nervous, in the second half we were better and created a few possibilities, but it was not enough.

"There were good crosses and good combinations, but our play was too slow and not effective in the final third. It was two points lost and it's a shame."

On Arnautovic's red card: "I think it's a important foul, it was very dangerous, he does not play the ball."

The stats

The Potters mustered just five shots in this game, their lowest haul in a Premier League game since 23 January (three v Leicester City)

Southampton have won just one of their past eight away games in the Premier League (D3 L4)

Southampton had 71.3% possession, their highest in a Premier League game since December 2013 (78.8% v Aston Villa)

What's next?

Stoke next play on Saturday at home to Leicester in a 15:00 GMT kick-off. Southampton are away to Bournemouth on Sunday at 13:30.