Stoke City and Southampton went into their Premier League match at the Britannia Stadium this afternoon in contrasting form, with the hosts winless in six matches, the same amount of games in which the impressive Saints are unbeaten.
The form book soon went out of the window though, when Potters goalkeeper Asmir Begovic's clearance from inside his own area was taken by the wind and bounced over his opposite number Artur Boruc to give Stoke the lead in remarkable fashion, and after just 14 seconds.
Jay Rodriguez was also thankful to the bounce of the ball when he netted Southampton's 41st-minute equaliser, as his header into the floor flew off the surface, over Begovic and into the top corner.
The visitors felt they should have had a late penalty when Ryan Shawcross handled a free kick from James Ward-Prowse, but they had to settle for a 1-1 draw which keeps them fifth in the table
Below, you can read how the action unfolded in Staffordshire.
Afternoon, all! Stoke vs. Southampton is one of six 3.00pm kickoffs being brought to you live by Sports Mole this afternoon. Let's get straight to the team news...
STOKE: Begovic; Cameron, Shawcross, Huth, Pieters; Walters, Nzonzi, Ireland, Whelan, Arnautovic; Crouch
SUBS: Sorensen, Palacios, Jones, Wilson, Adam, Assaidi, Etherington
SOUTHAMPTON: Boruc; Clyne, Fonte, Lovren, Shaw; Wanyama, Schneiderlin; Ward-Prowse, Lallana, Rodriguez; Lambert
SUBS: K. Davis, S. Davis, Ramirez, Cork, Lee, Chambers, Hooiveld
The omission of Daniel Osvaldo from Southampton's squad is an intriguing one, and one that could interest the conspiracy theorists that are suggesting that he may be back on his way to Italy.
In the absence of the £15m record signing from Roma, Rickie Lambert, whose journey to St Mary's has been far less glamorous, is the lone striker in Mauricio Pochettino's 4-2-3-1 formation.
It is an unchanged Saints XI from the side that comfortably beat Fulham 2-0 last Saturday, with the only alteration to the 18 coming on the bench, where Steven Davis replaces the injured Guly do Prado.
That means that Southampton's now very familiar looking back four, which boasts the second best defence record in the major European leagues, remains in-tact.
Nathaniel Clyne, Jose Fonte, Dejan Lovren and Luke Shaw, and of course Artur Boruc behind them, have a defensive record bettered only by Serie A leaders Roma.
Mark Hughes rings the changes from XI that started their Capital One Cup penalty-shootout victory over Birmingham City in midweek, making six personnel alterations in total.
The Potters boss restores five of the players that were rested in midweek, but did feature from the off in the 3-2 Premier League loss to Manchester United at Old Trafford last Saturday.
Their usual number one, Asmir Begovic is recalled in goal, while there are changes in both of the full-back positions, with Erik Pieters and Geoff Cameron coming in for Marcs, Muniesa and Wilson.
Jermaine Pennant and Oussama Assaidi, who scored at St Andrews on Wednesday night, also drop out with Stephen Ireland and Jonathan Walters charged with getting forward from midfield to provide support to lone striker Peter Crouch, who will play just ahead of Marko Arnautovic.
Honduran international Wilson Palacios, who started both of Stoke's games last week, is left out in favour of Glenn Whelan, who has recovered from a hamstring injury to make his first Premier League start since the opening day of the season.
The Potters have began to find their scoring boots over the last seven days, having found the net six times in their previous two outings, after only netting four times in their first eight top-flight matches.
Crouch, back in favour after being demoted to the bench for much of the early parts of the season, and summer signing Arnautovic have each scored in their last two games, and they continue their partnership in attack today.
HEAD-TO-HEAD: This is only the third Premier League meeting between these two sides, with both of their matches last term ending in draws. There were six goals in the corresponding fixture in December, when Cameron Jerome scored a stunning last-minute winner.
FORM: The two sides are in contrasting form heading into this contest. Stoke are one of only two top-flight sides, the other one being managerless Crystal Palace, that are without a win in six matches. Southampton, meanwhile, haven't lost in the same amount of games.
Just under 10 minutes until kickoff in the Potteries...
ONE TO WATCH: Adam Lallana has been touted for an England call-up by his manager and teammates recently, and will be well worth keeping an eye on today. Stoke have a very compact defence, and the Saints will be looking to their skipper to find the holes in it this afternoon.
PREDICTION: I see this one being low scoring and being settled by the odd goal. Southampton have been on a roll, but Stoke are due a home win and I think they might just nick it 1-0. Peter Crouch to score against his former club, I fancy.
We are underway at the Britannia Stadium...
GOAL! Stoke 1-0 Southampton (ASMIR BEGOVIC)
This could be the most bizarre start to a Premier League game I have ever seen! Stoke kick us off and roll the ball back routinely to Begovic, who lumps the ball forward from his own penalty spot. The wind catches it and it travels some distance, before bouncing through the Saints defence, over keeper Artur Boruc and into the net after just 14 seconds. Absolutely incredible!
The home crowd don't know whether to be overjoyed or shocked! There was no celebration from Begovic though, perhaps in respect to his opposite number, despite him becoming just the fifth goalkeeper to score in the Premier League. He is now greeted with cries of "SHOOT" whenever the ball is at his feet.
Southampton are yet to really respond from what I am sure is a very unsettling start. Their defence had only conceded three times in the top-flight before today, so it was going to take something a bit special to breach it this afternoon, and boy was it!
CHANCE! Stoke perhaps should be two up inside 10 minutes. A corner is flicked on at the near post by Walters, with the ball falling to Shawcross six yards out, but he completely miscues his shot which rolls wide. Fantastic opportunity!
Crouch isn't known for his running down the channels, but Ireland releases him down the inside left, and the lanky striker cuts inside and stands a ball up for Arnautovic. The wind holds the ball up a little, and there is little pace on the cross by the time the Austrian meets it with a header that drifts wide.
CLOSE! It is now Southampton's turn to threaten from a corner, and Lallana's delivery is a brilliant one, inviting the Saints bodies to attack it. Lovren does, climbing above Huth, which is no mean feat in itself, and then glancing a six-yard header just a fraction wide.
Better from the visitors, who attack through Luke Shaw down the left. He may have been tempted to shoot across goal, but instead crosses deep to the back post. It is over Lambert, who chases after it and dinks a return ball into the six-yard box. Huth clears from Ward-Prowse, who was offside anyway.
The blustery conditions are causing both sides problems, and Whelan misjudges the high ball and allows Southampton to launch a counter attack. Wanyama travels with it and is invited to shoot, which he does, low and wide from around 30 yards out. Very ambitious.
UPDATE! This could turn out to be a very long afternoon for Fulham. They are already 3-0 down to Manchester United, with Antonio Valencia, Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney the scorers.
Stoke have got in behind Clyne on a couple of occasions already, and this time it is Arnautovic who is free as he runs to the left byline. Crouch makes a run to the near post, which the Austrian tries to find, but Lovren comes across to stretch out a leg and turn the ball away.
Lallana is drifting around the Saints final third trying to find some space. He finds some in the middle but his aerial pass to Lambert is too pacey for the England man to control. Southampton's skipper pops up on the right a minute later, but is muscled off the ball by Shawcross, and concedes a free kick as he tries to win it back.
Brilliantly control from Lambert, who pulls the ball down on the halfway line before turning and releasing Rodriguez through the middle. The ex-Burnley striker cannot keep his shot down, though, and it ends up some distance high and wide.
Nice, quick interplay between Lambert and Lallana, who switches the play to Shaw. He tries to run away from Walters, who is tugging at the young full-back's shirt. Southampton have a free kick, which is delivered into the box, but headed away by Shawcross.
Schneiderlin fizzes a pass into the feet of Rodriguez, who lets it run through him and onto Lallana, who was running forward from deep. The Saints skipper stretches to try and control it, but loses his footing while doing so and the danger is no more.
Lallana lays the ball out to Ward-Prowse on the right and the teenager deliveries a superb ball across the area. Begovic makes half an attempt to come out and claim it, but there is far too much pace on the delivery for him to reach it in time, and he is in no man's land as the ball passes two Saints bodies at the back post.
The visitors are starting to get a grip on this contest, and Ward-Prowse earns them a free kick in a promising position. Lambert is over it, strikes it fiercely, but any dip he was trying to put on the shot was cancelled out by the wind, which took the effort towards row z. Lambert will blame it on the wind, anyway.
GOAL! Stoke 1-1 Southampton (JAY RODRIGUEZ)
Southampton's pressure pays as Rodriguez heads them level! It is a strange finish to some brilliant buildup play. Clyne and Lallana exchange a one-two on the right, before the former plays inside to Ward-Prowse. He spots the run of Rodriguez in off the left, and crosses from deep. It is another excellent delivery, hung up in the air to allow the former Burnley striker the chance to complete his run into the box. When he meets the ball, he heads it forcefully into the ground, with the bounce taking it over Begovic and just under the crossbar. His third Premier League goal in four games.
I'm surprised there hasn't been some bookings in this first period. Both teams are playing a high-intesity pressing game and thus there have been some fierce challenges. Nothing too bad, though, with Chris Foy yet to show a yellow card.
HALF-TIME: STOKE 1-1 SOUTHAMPTON
Well I wonder where we should start when analysing this first half? Perhaps with the 95-yard goal from a keeper after 14 seconds? Sounds ridiculous, I know, but that is exactly what happened in what I'm sure will go down as the most extraordinary start ever to a Premier League match.
From kickoff, Stoke were pressed by the Saints and gradually passed the ball backwards to Asmir Begovic, who lumped the ball forward. His clearance was taken by the wind, travelled almost the entire length of the pitch before bouncing, when it flew off the surface and over his embarrassed opposite number Artur Boruc.
Southampton were visibly shocked, but eventually settled and then established some pressure which led to their deserved equaliser. It was neat buildup play down the right, with Nathaniel Clyne, Adam Lallana and James Ward-Prowse all involved, with the latter crossing from deep for Jay Rodriguez to head into the floor and over Begovic at the back post. The wind has played a part in both goals.
STATS: Each side's goal was their only shot on target in the first half, which, from a Stoke point of view, when it is your goalkeeper who has netted, may explain their troubles in front of goal. Southampton have dominated possession with 65%.
We are back underway in Staffordshire, and I have news of a half-time change made by the hosts...
SUBSTITUTION: Glenn Whelan's return from injury lasts just 45 minutes, as he is replaced by Wilson Palacios at the interval. Stoke now have the same XI that started their loss to United last weekend.
BOOKING: Walters is the first man to be cautioned this afternoon, as he catches Rodriguez with his arm when leaning across him to try and stop the Southampton man's forward run.
SAVE! Ireland pings the ball into the feet of Walters in the right channel, who cleverly turns inside and away from Shaw. He comes inside before playing a reverse pass into Arnautovic, whose stinging shot, bound for the top corner, is smartly palmed away by Boruc.
Shaw gets forward again down the left, and shows that he has a trick or two up his sleeve, twisting Cameron one way and then the other before standing up a cross towards Lambert. Shawcross heads behind for a corner.
PENALTY APPEAL! The Saints attack down the other flank this time, as Ward-Prowse gets to the byline. Pieters slides in to try and block his cross, which he does, but seemingly with his arm, which was behind him and did not move towards the ball. It definitely struck his arm, but it didn't look deliberate. It would have been harsh.
CLOSE! N'Zonzi concedes a free kick, central to the goal and 22 yards out. Ward-Prowse takes command, placing the ball and moving Lambert aside before bending a shot up and over the wall. It didn't quite have enough dip on it though, and lands on the roof of the net. Good effort.
Ireland drills in a flat corner, which Shawcross attacks. He probably jumps too late, though and cannot get over his header, which loops harmlessly into the stands behind the goal.
The wind seems to be getting heavier, and the players are finding it difficult to control their crossing in particular. At each end, deliveries from Arnautovic and Ward-Prowse are taken by the strong breeze straight into the hands of the respective goalkeepers.
Rodriguez shows some lovely feat on the left touchline, dribbling between two Stoke defenders and then continuing his run to the edge of the box. He tries to square the ball to Wanyama, but leaves his pass short, and Palacios intercepts.
SUBSTITUTION: Mark Hughes changes things up in midfield again, introducing on-loan Liverpool winger Oussama Assaidi in place of Stephen Ireland. That will see Arnautovic move inside, I expect.
Lambert plays the ball inside to Lallana, who was making another run into the penalty area. Cameron slides in from behind, which is always dangerous, but the American's tackle is excellent as he sweeps the ball away from the Saints skipper and launches a Stoke counter.
SHOT! Ward-Prowse, a provider for Southampton's equaliser, tries to add a goal to his assist with an attempted curler which is comfortably held by Begovic. The teenager didn't really get hold of that.
SUBSTITUTION: Pochettino turns to his bench for the first time, bringing on Gaston Ramirez in place of goalscorer Jay Rodriguez, whose 41st-minute header equalised for the visitors.
The same pair on the Saints left combine, with Lambert shifting the ball inside for Lallana. The Southampton skipper tries a clever turn and looks to have created some space for himself inside the home area, before Palacios sticks a foot in to make an important tackle.
BOOKING: Stoke have a free kick on the right touchline after Lovren catches Walters on his ankle with his trailing leg. The Croatian is cautioned for the tackle.
SHOT! Ward-Prowse sends a corner deep and it lands at the feet of Lovren. The centre-back can't quite get the ball out from underneath him and, when he does, he slices a shot some distance off target. Wanyama was unmarked on the edge of the box and screaming for a layoff.
Ramirez delivers a set piece from about 40 yards out which travels over the congested penalty area and behind for a goal kick.
SHOT! Assaidi makes his first contribution since coming on, making a tricky run down the left. He twists Clyne inside out before cutting inside, but couldn't wrap his foot around his attempted curler.
SHOT! It's old-school Stoke, as Cameron launches in a long throw which Crouch knocks down. The ball falls to Arnautovic, who doesn't get all of his left-footed volley. It should be easy pickings for Boruc, but the Pole somehow spills it and forces Fonte to clear for a corner.
UPDATE: It's been a great afternoon for the Manchester clubs. City have gone goal crazy against Norwich, putting seven past the Canaries, with seven different names on the scoresheet. That won't help Chris Hughton's seemingly precarious position.
BOOKING: Shaw draws a foul out of Cameron near the halfway line on the left, for which the Potters full-back is cautioned.
PENALTY APPEAL! From the resultant free-kick, Ward-Prowse whips the ball in with real pace, and Shawcross comes across to try and clear, but gets himself in a right mess and ends up blocking it with his arm. The Saints have a real case there, but referee Foy gives nothing!
We are now entering the first of THREE minutes of stoppage time...
A daft foul from Wanyama on the left touchline gives Stoke one final chance to throw bodies forward and cross into the box. Can the Potters grab a late winner? Poor delivery from the Austrian, though, and Fonte boots clear.
SAVE! Lambert has a chance to win it for the Saints, but his strike is saved by the alert Begovic in the Stoke goal, who has an impact in the last minute, just as he did in the first! In-fact, Lambert has been adjudged offside, anyway, but that was a nervy moment for the hosts!
FULL TIME: STOKE 1-1 SOUTHAMPTON:
So, the points are shared between Stoke and Southampton, who may feel that fortune did not favour them today. They were the victim of a freak goal from Potters keeper Asmir Begovic, who gave the hosts the lead after just 14 seconds with a clearance from his own area, and also had what looked like a penalty turned down three minutes from time, when Ryan Shawcross appeared to handle in the box.
In between those two incidents, Jay Rodriguez equalised in the 41st minute, applying a headed finish to a well-constructed Saints move. Mauricio Pochettino may feel that his side were worthy of maximum points, but they have to settle for a draw which extends their unbeaten run to seven Premier League games. Stoke, meanwhile, are still without a win in the same amount of games.
That's all from me. Be sure to stay tuned to Sports Mole for the big top-of-the-table clash between Arsenal and Liverpool. Thanks for joining us this afternoon, on the day that Asmir Begovic became just the fifth goalkeeper to score in the Premier League, and in just 14 seconds too. Quite incredible! Over and out...
