Jordy Clasie goal sees Southampton beat West Brom

Clasie’s rasping 25th-minute shot, his first goal in the Premier League, compounded a miserable week for Tony Pulis, who has seen his side follow up last Saturday’s creditable draw at Old Trafford with successive defeats.

In contrast, it was a second straight victory for Southampton, who impressed again with their fluid approach, Nathan Redmond and Dusan Tadic in particularly fine fettle.

While the Saints attackers sparkled in the first half, it was a defensive masterclass in the second as Maya Yoshida convincingly won his personal duel with Salomon Rondon and Fraser Forster excelled in goal.

As the Baggies searched hard for an equaliser, Forster denied them time again – producing magnificent stops from Rondon and Dawson to ensure that West Brom failed to score for the sixth time in eight Premier League games against the Saints.

Baggies losing bounce. After the victory against Arsenal and draw at Manchester United, much was made of Tony Pulis guiding his side towards their best ever Premier League finish and points total. But West Brom appear to be tiring; the 2-0 defeat to Watford was a laboured performance and against Southampton, they were chasing shadows for much of the first hour. Pulis’ second-half subs – notably Hal Robson-Kanu and James McClean - injected some much-needed impetus into the Baggies attack but they just did not have enough firepower, or energy, to break down a stubborn Southampton backline. Next up is Liverpool for West Brom – it’s going to be tough to avoid a third consecutive defeat.

Fraser Forster (Southampton): Yoshida’s performance at centre-back was masterful but he was pipped at the post by his goalkeeper, whose late double save ensured Southampton walked away from The Hawthorns with all three points. Forster’s point-blank stop from Dawson in stoppage time demonstrated incredible reflexes, while his first-half save from Rondon was equally spectacular as he clawed away the striker’s goalbound effort on the line.

West Brom: Foster 7, Dawson 7, McAuley 6, Evans 6, Nyom 6, Fletcher 6, Livermore 6, Morrison 7, Phillips 6, Chadli 6, Rondon 6. Subs: McClean 7, Brunt 6, Robson-Kanu 7

Southampton: Forster 9, Cedric 6, Stephens 7, Yoshida 9, Bertrand 7, Clasie 7, Hojberg 7, Ward-Prowse 6, Tadic 7, Redmond 8, Long 7. Subs: McQueen 6, Reed 6, Sims 6

25' - GOAL! A sensational strike from Clasie opens the scoring. Long creates space on the left side of the area and squares to Tadic, who lays the ball off for his team-mate to thump a shot past Ben Foster.

38' - GREAT SAVE! A back-post header from Salomon Rondon is clawed away magnificently by Fraser Forster. He stepped one way but then dived the other to some how keep the ball out of the goal.

44' - So close! Shane Long goes agonisingly close with a diving header. With the goal at his mercy he nods the ball wide.

67' - Super save: A smart volley from Nathan Redmond is met by a smart save by Ben Foster, who turns the ball away at the near post after the winger plucked the ball out of the air.

90'+3 - AMAZING! An incredible save from Forster denies Dawson's close-range volley. Nyom's follow up is spooned high over the bar.