Southampton keeps second spot in EPL with win over Hull City

HULL, England (AP) — Southampton beat Hull 1-0 Saturday to stay second with its seventh Premier League win of the season.

The Saints struck early at the KC Stadium when Victor Wanyama scored with a precise 40-yard (meter) strike in the third minute which went into the top left corner.

Ronald Koeman's team has 22 points from 10 games and trails Chelsea by four points. Southampton has won 10 of its last 11 games in all competitions.

Wanyama's superb goal, courtesy of goalkeeper Eldin Jakupovic's botched clearance, continued Southampton's wonderful start to the season at Hull's expense.

Jakupovic, starting only his third Premier League game in the absence of Allan McGregor and Steve Harper, scuffed the kick to the Saints midfielder and left himself hopelessly out of position.

The net was completely unguarded but it required a cool head and sound technique to find it from such range, a challenge Wanyama made light of as he stroked home his third goal of the season.

Hull's initial response was full of energy, with Mohamed Diame to the fore, but as the game progressed the home threat became increasingly blunt.

Watched by England manager Roy Hodgson, it was Southampton who came closest to adding another. The lively Steven Davis was denied by Jakupovic from a poacher's effort and substitute Sadio Mane turned a clear chance wide from point-blank range.