Charlie Adam went from goalscorer to creator to boost Stoke’s hopes of Premier League survival.

Seven days after bagging the two goals that brought a rare win over Manchester United, the Scotland midfielder set up two more to ensure a welcome point and dent Southampton’s hopes of a late run for a Europa League place.

After the euphoria of defeating United, Stoke — scoreless in five of their last six away games — needed a strong performance to maintain their confidence. And thanks to Adam they got one, to leave manager Mark Hughes upbeat about their prospects of staying up.

‘It was an important game for us,’ manager Mark Hughes said. ‘Obviously we had a fantastic result last weekend against Manchester United and it would have been a real disappointment not to have got something out of this game because it is important we get a run going.

‘I felt we were the better side in the first half, albeit we went behind twice, but we showed great character and no little skill to get back on level terms.

‘In the second half, both teams cancelled each other out somewhat and as the away team that’s a very good performance from our point of view.

‘They’re a team I’ve enjoyed watching this year and we restricted them to very few clear-cut chances. That shows the quality of our performance.’

All the meaningful action of a rain-lashed game came in the first half as Stoke twice fought back to keep in-form Saints in check.

The home side swept into an early lead thanks to another stunning free-kick from Rickie Lambert.

After Adam handled a cross from Adam Lallana just outside the left corner of the penalty area the England striker sized up a shot when many would have been content to play in a dangerous cross — and thumped a rising drive into the top far corner.

Adam then atoned for conceding the free-kick with a defence-splitting pass to send Peter Odemwingie through for his first Stoke goal since his transfer from Cardiff.

Steven Davis restored Southampton’s advantage as the otherwise excellent Asmir Begovic was distracted by the bodies in front of him and allowed the midfielder’s cross-cum-shot to drift into the far corner.

One goalkeeping error was matched by another as Artur Boruc failed to deal with Adam’s viciously inswinging corner, allowing Peter Crouch to bundle the ball over the line. Saints pressed for a second-half winner but the Stoke defence, in which Ryan Shawcross was prominent, held firm.

In contrast to their attacking threat Southampton’s defence had let them down again. Successive 2-2 draws against Arsenal and now Stoke at St Mary’s failed to bring the rewards Mauricio Pochettino felt they deserved.

‘It is not frustrating, but disappointing,’ the Saints boss said. ‘Over the 90 minutes we deserved to win but in football you can’t really deserve to win you have to show it and do it.

‘The only but is that after that [Lambert goal] we were not aggressive enough to go on and get a second and that would have put the game to bed.

‘Then when we went to 2-1 we weren’t able to hold on to the lead and again we should have been more aggressive.

‘We practically nullified Stoke in the second half and were creating all the chances but in the end it was not to be.’

Saints have now gone five matches unbeaten in the league, but three of those have ended as 2-2 draws despite Pochettino’s side edging them.

‘Both against Arsenal and Stoke the game ended 2-2 and we deserved more, but overall we’re on the right path,’ he added.

‘We were playing against most physical team in Premier League and the weather conditions were difficult so overall we have to look at the positives.

‘We had full control of the game, especially in the second half. Stoke are a team who play to their strengths and I have full respect for their approach to football. But we deserved more from this game.’

—Daily Mail