Football - Sunderland 0 Southampton 1 report

Southampton's Dusan Tadic celebrates his penalty goal

Dusan Tadic netted a second-half penalty - given away foolishly by Yann M’Vila - to hand Southampton a 1-0 win at Sunderland.

M'Vila made a needless sliding tackle on Ryan Bertrand close to the byline on 69 minutes, which had Sam Allardyce perplexed on the touchline, and Tadic duly slotted the penalty home. Sunderland have now lost three of their four matches since Allardyce took over and they remain in the relegation zone on just six points after 12 games.

Meanwhile, Southampton are unbeaten in eight games in all competitions and have yet to taste defeat away from home in the Premier League this season.  Sunderland conceded six goals at Everton last weekend and Allardyce warned his players in midweek that a gung-ho approach would not yield points in their current predicament.

Allardyce handed young striker Duncan Watmore his first Premier League start in one of four changes to the team that were humbled on Merseyside. He started on the left wing as the hosts set up with strong foundations in a very defensive shape - it was a plan that restricted the visitors to just a couple of chances in the opening half.

Southampton striker Graziano Pelle' unselfish flick allowed Tadic a sight of goal from close range on nine minutes but Costel Pantilimon was quick off his line to make the block. Pantilimon was called into action 11 minutes later as Saido Mane unleashed a snap-shot from 15 yards that needed punching clear.

Sunderland needed more attacking inspiration after creating next to nothing in the first-half and Allardyce sent on Fabio Borini at half-time in search for goals. However, it was the visitors that kept up the pressure. DeAndre Yedlin made a brave header on his goal line after Jose Fonte flicked a header towards the bottom corner following a Tadic corner.

Sebastian Coates was the next Sunderland defender to make a goal saving block on 61 minutes when he got his right boot to a Steven Davis effort that had Pantilimon beaten. Sunderland were defending with cool heads until M'Vila lost his on 68 minutes.

Bertrand made a scampering run down the left-hand side of the box and initially M'Vila did brilliantly to track him, but he needlessly slid in on the wet turf and got nowhere near the ball. His momentum brought Bertrand to the ground and it was a clear penalty. Tadic stepped up and whipped the ball into the far corner from the spot.

Sunderland didn't let their heads drop though and Borini tested Maarten Stekelenburg with a powerful half-volley that he tipped over the crossbar before Adam Johnson whipped a 25-yard free-kick just wide of the post.

Allardyce's men continued their forward momentum and had appeals for a penalty turned down late on when substitute Jack Rodwell's header hit Maya Yoshida on the arm.