Theo Walcott's third goal in as many matches and a late Djamel Belmadi strike earned Southampton a rare home win against 10-man Stoke, who had Marlon Broomes sent off and boss Johan Boskamp ordered from the dug out.

Rising teenage star Walcott, who had already had a goal disallowed before steering home from Nigel Quashie's pass in the 16th minute, led the Stoke defence a merry dance throughout.

The only way to stop the 16-year-old was by foul means and that is exactly what Stoke defender Broomes resorted to in the 40th minute, lashing out at the youngster to earn an immediate red card.

Boskamp's protests resulted in him watching the rest of the match from the directors' box, while Belmadi lashed home at the far post in time added on after substitute Kenwyne Jones' miskick.

Saints fans thought Walcott had given their side a dream start when he drove the ball beyond Stoke goalkeeper Steve Simonsen in the second minute only for the effort to be ruled out for an infringement.

Walcott then swapped long-range drives with Stoke striker Hannes Sigurdsson and did not have to wait long before scoring his third goal of the season.

Midfielder Quashie picked out the livewire with a pass from the right and Walcott shot home low into the bottom corner.

But Stoke enjoyed an equal share of possession and Darel Russell saw his shot from the edge of the penalty area blocked by Danny Higginbotham, another Sigurdsson effort was dealt with in similar fashion by Michael Svensson and Dave Brammer went close from 25 yards.

Antti Niemi then did well to parry Sigurdsson's close-range shot before Southampton responded through Dennis Wise - recalled to the side in place of Matt Oakley - whose 25-yard shot was blocked by Andy Wilkinson.

Quashie forced Simonsen to punch his strike from distance clear and the visiting keeper then held Ricardo Fuller's shot as the action flowed.

Walcott was causing the Stoke defence no end of trouble with his electric pace and when Broomes lashed out at the youngster in frustration he was immediately sent off for violent conduct.

Potters boss Boskamp was furious with the decision and after failing to heed any warnings he too was dismissed from the touchline by referee Ray Olivier.

Simonsen prevented 10-man Stoke going further behind shortly after the restart when he denied Belmadi from the edge of the box, while Fuller saw his left-foot shot blocked by Gabriel Ngalula Mbuyi.

Fuller again, Neil McCann, Walcott and Quashie all peppered the Stoke goal, but Stoke pair Brammer and Mamady Sidibe fired long-range warnings to remind the home fans their side still needed another goal.

Sigurdsson, albeit from 35 yards, and Paul Gallagher also threatened Niemi's goal, the Saints keeper holding onto the latter's effort from the edge of the penalty area as the game-clinching goal continued to elude the home side.

Saints substitute Jones - on for Fuller - and Walcott forced Niemi into two more smart saves late on before Belmadi made sure of the points in the third minute of time added on.

Teams

Southampton Niemi, Delap, Lundekvam, Svensson, Higginbotham, Belmadi, Quashie, Wise, McCann, Walcott, Fuller (Jones 77).

Subs Not Used: Smith, Kosowski, Powell, Folly.

Goals: Walcott 16, Belmadi 90.

Stoke Simonsen, Halls, Broomes, Hoefkens, Wilkinson, Russell, Mbuyi, Brammer, Sigurdsson (Sweeney 86), Gallagher (Paterson 83), Sidibe.

Subs Not Used: de Goey, Kolar, Henry.

Sent Off: Broomes (40).

Booked: Brammer.

Att: 24,095

Ref: R Oliver (W Midlands).