If there is one team you don't want to play when trying to end a goal drought it is West Brom, it took a special goal to win a horrible game.

Tony Pulis is one of the most odious managers in football, in fact change that, one of the most odious person not just in football but of virtually any other public figure, he puts out teams designed to spoil the game and that was clear from the moment they ran out of the tunnel at St Mary's, they were time wasting in their own warm up such was their desire to run the clock down without conceding a goal and then hope to get one on the break.

Mauricio Pellegrino did little to try and change things himself to end Saints poor form, one change and as good as Steven Davis is, he is not a game changer or in general a scorer or creator of goals.

So with little changed this game followed the same pattern as most of our other fixtures this season, we had the majority of possession, but rarely got any of our players in decent goal scoring positions, with the opposition content to sit back and let us pass the ball around in midfield.

For most of the game Saints looked solid, Fraser Forster juggled a cross to let his critics have a moan, but crucially made the one save he had to, but the issue is not defending it is about creating good chances and once again we failed to do so.

With five minutes left there seemed to be nothing on the horizon to suggest a goal, Pellegrino had thrown on Boufal and Austin four minutes earlier, but that looked a case of too little too late and the odious Pulis was rubbing his hands at the thought of a point.

Then Boufal picked up the ball midway in his own half and ran with it and ran with it, beating five players before stroking the ball into the bottom corner for what was arguably the best ever individual goal scored at St Mary's.

West Brom were broken, there was no late onslaught from them and Saints held out comfortably for all three points to push themselves into the top ten.

Yes it was another dire game, but the goal changes things in that it will inspire confidence, as we move up the table we can start to play not only with more confidence but more importantly without fear.

Boufal's goal showed that Saints have plenty of goal scorers and match winners, the issue is getting them into positions where they can score.

Now Mauricio Pellegrino has to start to show his leadership qualities, we have a trip to Brighton next week followed by a home game against Burnley, both are winnable and the manager has to do what his predecesor failed to, win three games in a row, if we can do that things will look a lot rosier.

So a game where the result matters a lot more than the manner of achieving it, this late goal changed the whole picture, we can start to look up the table rather than over our shoulders.

Last word though to Tony Pulis who had this to say about Boufal's goal in the post match press conference.

"The viewers will see it and think it's a wonderful goal. He's going past five players, one or two you'd hope would do better. It's disappointing."

What a lovely humble man who can lose with good grace !

Photo: Action Images

Bridsaint added 18:55 - Oct 22 Our bunch of players are young and Very talented. Stop having a rant at them and concentrate your anger at the way they are being coached and managed. Our first team coach has had little success in his coaching career, was assistant to Puel and on Saturday evening was in the dugout managing the substitutions! Isn't it clear that since he has been part of our set up all that we learnt from Poch and Koeman has been ​either forgotten or ignored. We have made a mistake in our management selection, recognise that fact and put it right immediately!

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IanRC added 22:43 - Oct 22 Think the manager needs to get his act together. Swapping Romeu for Redmond, the team we finished with was the team we should have started with, bringing on Long as their defence tired. Hope MP learns the lesson for the next game. Disagree with the negative comments about Van Dijk thought he had a good game but concerned that Bertrand and Soares are both now not getting forward enough.

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DorsetIan added 09:54 - Oct 23 I don't want to blow my own trumpet or anything but you heard it here first!! I posted this last week... ...Despite all the evidence, I still hold out great hopes for Boufal. He at least is trying to take on defenders. When WBA park their three double deckers on Saturday, we are going to need a bit of magic to get through...
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BoondockSaint added 15:05 - Oct 23 Agree with the "paper/cracks" comments and yes Boufal has earned the right to start. I have been saying he needs to prove his worth or move on. His run highlighted his strength and weakness: great dribbling skills but refuses to pass----which was the right thing to do because anyone else except Gabbiadini would have played it backwards. Against a better team, he might have lost the ball. But let him start the next run of games and see what he can do. J-Rod and Forster were in usual form. (As was Lovern) Nick, why all the virtiol for Pulis? He's doing what he has to do to survive in the Prem. He has a team and budget that means they will never challenge for top honors. Their fans have to be realistic and understand they should be happy to just sit in the middle of the table year after year and make up the numbers for the big clubs--you know, like you tell us Saints fans when we think the club should be more ambitious?

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