Southampton were made to wait for the chance to book their place in the knockout stages of the Europa League this evening courtesy of a 1-0 defeat to Sparta Prague at the Generali Arena.
Costa Nhamoinesu got the only goal of the game for the home side as they secured their spot in the last 32 as Group K winners.
However, Southampton must now record a win or a 0-0 draw against Hapoel Be'er Sheva in their final group game if they are to join Sparta in the knockout rounds.
Find out how all of the action unfolded courtesy of Sports Mole's live minute-by-minute coverage below.
5pmGood evening! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for tonight's Europa League clash between Sparta Prague and Southampton at the Generali Arena! Both sides could end this evening having qualified for the last 32, so there is plenty at stake in this match. Let's start with a look at the two teams...
5.02pmSPARTA STARTING XI: Koubek; Karavaev, Mazuch, Kadlec, Costa; Julis, Marecek, Dockal, Holek, Holzer; Lafata
5.02pmSPARTA SUBS: Miller, Havelka, Dudl, Kostl, Mil, Kadlec, Novotny, Majka
5.04pmSOUTHAMPTON STARTING XI: Forster; Martina, Yoshida, Van Dijk, McQueen; Clasie, Hojbjerg; Rodriguez, Ward-Prowse, Redmond; Long
5.04pmSOUTHAMPTON SUBS: Lewis, Davis, Austin, Romeu, Boufal, Bertrand, Stephens
5.06pmWhat can we make of those two sides, then? Well, the main dangerman for the home side will be Lafata, who leads the line this evening. The striker scored at the weekend to take his tally for the season to nine goals in 14 appearances, and he will be hoping to maintain that impressive strike rate against the Saints. It is fair to say that Southampton's defence is stronger than what he comes up against most weeks, but he clearly knows where the goal is.
5.08pmHolzer was also on the scoresheet at the weekend and retains his place in the starting lineup this evening, but there is no room for the third scorer against Karvina as Pulkrab misses out through suspension. He is replaced in the starting XI by Dockal this evening.
5.10pmIn all, the hosts have made only two changes from the team that beat Karvina 3-0 at the weekend, with the other coming in defence as Mazuch returns to the starting lineup. The centre-back is making his 50th club appearance in European competition this evening, replacing the youngster Havelka in the side having missed out entirely at the weekend.
5.12pmThere is no place at all in the squad for Tomas Rosicky, whose long but injury-prone spell at Arsenal came to an end last season. Rosicky returned to former club Sparta Prague, but he hasn't been able to force his way into the side on a regular basis so far, managing just one league appearance since his return.
5.14pmAs for Southampton, their headline news is that Charlie Austin drops to the bench as expected, with Shane Long chosen to lead the line for Claude Puel's side this evening. The Republic of Ireland international is perhaps not as clinical as Austin when given a chance, but he is a nuisance to play against and will not give Sparta's defenders any time at all on the ball. He also has something of a point to prove having lost his place in the side to Austin.
5.16pmAustin actually scored twice in the reverse fixture between these two sides, but the other goalscorer in that game does start this evening as Jay Rodriguez returns to the starting XI. The Southampton team sheet suggests that they will play with three behind Long, and Rodriguez is likely in that trio alongside the returning James Ward-Prowse and Nathan Redmond, who is the only one of that front four to retain his spot from the weekend.
5.18pmIn addition to a change in formation, Puel has also made seven changes of personnel to the team that held Liverpool to a goalless draw at the weekend. One of those comes in the deeper midfield role as Jordy Clasie is preferred to Romeu, who joins the likes of Davis, Austin, Boufal and Bertrand in dropping to the bench. Hojbjerg, meanwhile, is one of only four players to keep his place in the side.
5.20pmFraser Forster and Virgil van Dijk are the remaining two who will start tonight having also started against Liverpool at the weekend, but it is all change around them at the back. There is no place in the squad for Cedric or Fonte, the latter of whom didn't travel with the team due to injury. Maya Yoshida comes in for the skipper while Cuco Martina fills in for Cedric on the right and McQueen starts ahead of Bertrand on the opposite flank.
5.22pmOn paper, Southampton will come into this match as the favourites, as much for their victory in the reverse as the superior strength in their squad, but Sparta will certainly feel as though they stand a good chance of coming away from this clash with a victory. Home advantage is also on Sparta's side, and they also come into the game in decent form. A victory would guarantee top spot in Group K too, so the incentive is there for them.
5.24pmEven a draw would be enough to seal Sparta's place in the last 32, though, with the Czech outfit currently five points clear of Hapoel Be'er Sheva in third. Sparta have amassed nine points from their four games so far, putting them two ahead of Southampton as well, although a draw tonight would mean that defeat to Inter Milan on the final matchday coupled with a Southampton win over Be'er Sheva would see the Saints win the group.
5.26pmSparta began the season in the Champions League, being entered into the top-tier competition in the third qualifying round. They got no further than that, though, losing 3-1 on aggregate to Steaua Bucharest to drop into this competition. There was still work for them to do to reach the group stages, but a 2-1 win over SonderjyskE in their Europa League playoff was enough to get them into the competition proper.
5.28pmSparta have reached the knockout rounds in just three of their seven previous UEFA Cup/Europa League group campaigns, although those three triumphs have come in their last four attempts, including last season. Sparta got all the way to the quarter-finals last term before their run was ended by Villarreal, who won both legs to progress through 6-3 on aggregate. Including those two defeats, though, Sparta have only been beaten three times in their last 20 Europa League outings stretching back to December 2014.
5.30pmThey are particularly tough to beat here at the Generali Arena too, where that quarter-final loss to Villarreal remains their only home Europa League defeat in their last 15 outings since a 1-0 reverse against Chelsea in February 2013. Their impressive record stretches even further back than that too, with only three home Europa League defeats in 33 games since 2007 - a run which includes 18 wins and 12 draws. This season, they have won three from three already.
5.32pmDomestically things aren't quite going to plan for Sparta, though. They are currently without a permanent manager after Zdenek Scasny stepped down following defeat to Slavia in the Prague derby on September 25. David Holoubek, Stanislas Hejkal and Zdenek Svoboda are currently in temporary charge of the tea, and they have overseen a four-game unbeaten streak heading into tonight's match.
5.34pmSparta have kept clean sheets in all four of those games too, and another this evening would make it five in a row for the club for the first time since September 2008. They have won their last five homes games in all competitions too, losing just one of 11 here all season, and tonight they are bidding to win six home games in a row - and keep five home clean sheets in a row - for the first time since October 2015. Still, though, they only sit fifth in the Czech Liga, seven points off leaders Viktoria Plzen.
5.36pmIf Sparta's form shows signs of being on the up, it is very hard to determine a trajectory for Southampton's recent performances. They have been in very mixed form of late - a trend shown perfectly from their last three outings. A famous victory over Inter Milan in this competition was followed up by a hugely disappointing defeat to struggling Hull City before they held the in-form Liverpool to a goalless draw at the weekend, nullifying the free-scoring Reds' dangerous attackers.
5.38pmIt is fair to say that Claude Puel has so far struggled to live up to the legacy left by Ronald Koeman, with Southampton currently battling for a place in the top half rather than a European spot. The Saints sit 11th in the table following that draw with Liverpool, already 10 points adrift of the top five and just four points clear of the relegation zone. They have only won three league games all season, which is the fourth-lowest tally in the league.
5.40pmSouthampton's matches haven't exactly been overflowing with excitement and goals either. They have averaged just one goal scored per game from their 12 outings in the Premier League, with only Burnley, Middlesbrough, Hull and Swansea finding the back of the net fewer times than the Saints so far. Things are better at the other end of the pitch, though, with Southampton also averaging just one goal conceded per game - a record which puts them behind only Chelsea, Man City and Tottenham.
5.42pmIt is more of the same on the European stage too, although results have been slightly more encouraging in this competition. They are one of only six teams not to have scored an away Europa League goal in the group stages so far, yet they have also only conceded two goals - a tally only Schalke can beat of all the teams in this competition.
5.44pmIndeed, Southampton have faced just nine shots on targets in the group stages so far, with only Shakhtar Donetsk allowing fewer in the opening four games. Their decent defensive record in Europe goes even further back than that, with only six goals conceded in their last 10 matches in European competition, while they have never let in more than one goal in a game during that time.
5.46pmThat has helped the Saints to the verge of the last 32, with victory enough to guarantee their place in the knockout rounds should Hapoel Be'er Sheva fail to beat Inter Milan tonight. Three points currently separate the Israeli outfit from Southampton, although a draw would not be enough as Inter Milan - surprisingly bottom of the group - are just a point further back. This is Southampton's first ever appearance in a European group stage too, so to qualify would be a memorable achievement for the club.
5.48pmIt is tough to know which Southampton will turn up, though, with their form varying from week to week. Away from home they have really struggled, though, failing to win any of their last five on their travels and only coming away with one victory from eight on the road across all competitions this season. In Southampton's defence, they have come up against the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal, Leicester, Inter Milan and Manchester City, but a 2-1 defeat to Hull in their most recent away game was a particularly disappointing result. In Europe they have failed to score in their last three away games and seven of their last eight - a run which stretches back to September 1981.
5.50pmPREDICTION: Right, we're 10 minutes away from kickoff at the Generali Stadium, which means that it is time for a prediction! This is a tough one to call considering Southampton's form of late. Sparta know that a draw will do them nicely tonight, while Southampton would probably settle for that if it was offered to them now too. I can see the spoils being shared as well, so I'm going for a 1-1 draw!
5.52pmSparta are winless in their last 15 European meetings with English opposition even since a 3-2 victory over Watford in November 1983. They actually won three of their first four games against teams from England, but nowadays their overall record makes for much worse reading - three wins, four draws and 12 defeats from 19 games. Things aren't much better at home either, where they have won two and lost five of their nine games.
5.54pmSouthampton, on the other hand, had never faced Czech opposition before the reverse fixture between these two sides in September. That means that the Saints can boast a 100% record against teams from the Czech Liga courtesy of their 3-0 triumph on matchday one. A first-half brace from Austin and late third from Rodriguez saw Southampton begin their campaign in perfect style, although since then it has been a win, draw and loss for the Saints while Sparta have won all three games.
5.56pmThat does mean, of course, that this is Southampton's first ever away game against Czech opposition, so it is another step into the unknown for them this evening. Qualification for the knockout rounds is still very much in their hands, though, so there would be no sense in going all out to get the job done this evening.
5.58pmRight, the players are out and we're almost ready to go in Prague! It is a crucial match in Group K as both Southampton and Sparta look to seal their place in the last 32 with a game to spare.
1 minKICKOFF: Here we go then! Southampton get us underway for this all-important Group K clash in a chilly Prague!
3 minCHANCE! Early chance for Southampton to grab the lead as Long breaks into the middle before poking the ball back to Clasie. It looks perfectly set up for a shot, but Clasie cleverly finds Rodriguez in space inside the box instead. However, Rodriguez takes too long over it and the defenders get back to make the challenge.
4 minCHANCE! Very nearly a huge chance for Sparta Prague at the other end! Hojbjerg nods the ball back towards Forster, but Lafata reads it and very nearly gets on the end of it. As it is, though, he just can't reach the ball and Forster collects it gratefully.
6 minIt must be said that the pitch is not the best this evening. The ball has bobbled around quite a lot already and the state of the surface could have an impact on this game.
8 minThe Southampton visiting fans are making plenty of noise so far tonight, although it isn't exactly a packed stadium to drown them out. There are plenty of empty seats in the ground here.
10 minHeavy challenge from Van Dijk as he completely wipes out Julis, although it was only a mistimed challenge rather than anything malicious. Referee Jesus Gil decides against a yellow card.
11 minGOAL! Sparta Prague 1-0 Southampton (Costa Nhamoinesu)
11 minFirst blood goes to Sparta, and it is a very well-worked goal from the hosts. Southampton's defending left a lot to be desired, though. Dockal is the man who lifts the free kick into the box, and Costa sneaks in behind the defence before planting his finish past Forster at the near post!
13 minSouthampton have been hard to scored against all season, but that was far too easy. The defenders did not track the run and Forster may have expected to do better at his near post too. There is work to do for the Saints now!
15 minUPDATE: There has been a goal in Group K's other match tonight, and it is good news for Southampton as Inter Milan have taken the lead against Be'er Sheva through Mauro Icardi.
15 minHalf a chance for Southampton as Rodriguez races in behind the defence and almost gets on the end of a lofted ball forward. Koubek is very calm in the Sparta goal, though, simply watching the ball bounce too high for Rosicky before collecting it.
16 minCHANCE! Good chance for Southampton to level things up again as Redmond slides a pass inside for McQueen. The left-back breaks into the box before going for goal, but his shot is straight at the keeper and Mazuch completes the clearance.
18 minMore pressure from the visitors as first Redmond cuts inside before seeing his shot blocked before Ward-Prowse produces a clever touch inside the box, only for Rodriguez to fail to read it. There have been a few signs of encouragement from Southampton since falling behind, though.
19 minCHANCE! Another decent opening for Southampton as Ward-Prowse whips a free kick into the box. Long gets his head to it and steers his effort towards the top corner, but the keeper pushes it around the post for a corner.
21 minSouthampton are enjoying the better possession and territory in this match and look in control, but still they trail to that Costa goal. Sparta seem relatively happy to just sit back and protect their lead now.
22 minSHOT! Ward-Prowse looks to level things up in style as he goes for goal from range, but he doesn't catch his shot and it trickles harmlessly wide of the target.
24 minCHANCE! Another chance for Southampton! Again it is Redmond who finds McQueen, and the full-back this time pulls a pass across for Rodriguez. The forward's effort is blocked but the ball drops back to McQueen, who drags a shot wide of the near post with his weaker right foot.
26 minUPDATE: There has been a second goal in Israel, and it is Inter Milan who have doubled their lead through Marcelo Brozovic. Inter need to win that game to remain in the competition.
28 minThe Southampton pressure has been pretty much relentless since they fell behind this evening, but they can't find that killer touch in the final third just yet. Their best work is coming down the left flank, though, and if they continue in this fashion then they will continue to create chances.
30 minAnother threat from the hosts, and again it is Costa making the run into the box that is not tracked. This time the pass is just too far in front of the goalscorer, though, and the ball goes through for a goal kick.
32 minYELLOW CARD! The first card of the evening goes to Holek for a heavy challenge on Ward-Prowse.
34 min
4 - Southampton have conceded in each of their last 4 games on the road (in all comps), after 3 clean sheets in a row before that. Fissure.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) November 24, 2016
36 minSouthampton almost get in behind on a couple of occasions in quick succession, but first Long and Rodriguez are flagged offside. That high line from Sparta could come back to haunt them if they carry on like this, though.
38 minSouthampton have dominated possession in this match and have had their chances too, but no really gilt-edged ones so far. Sparta will be pretty pleased with how this first half has gone despite being on the back foot for most of it.
40 minSouthampton come forward down the right flank, with Martina collecting the ball on the overlap. His cross is flicked on by Long at the front post, but there is no-one following up and Sparta eventually win a goal kick.
42 minThe visitors are camped in the Sparta half at the moment, and they have been for some time. Sparta are keeping their shape well at the moment, but they will surely grow tired as they game wears on and then gaps may start to appear.
44 minSHOT! Another length spell of Southampton possession ends with Claise going for goal from range, but his 25-yard strike is straight at the keeper.
45 minHALF TIME: Sparta Prague 1-0 Southampton
6.56pmThe first half comes to an end at the Generali Arena, then, and it is Sparta who go into the break ahead. In truth, the hosts have been second best for the most part so far, but they have kept their shape well and are so far doing a good job of protecting their lead.
6.58pmThe only goal of the game so far came in the 11th minute as Costa made a surging run into the box to latch on to a floated free kick delivery from Dockal. The Sparta full-back was not tracked and timed his run to perfection before volleying past Forster at the near post.
7pmSouthampton have completely dominated since falling behind, but to no avail so far. Their best work has come down the left flank, with Sam McQueen having a couple of decent shooting opportunities in the box. Shane Long, Ward-Prowse and Clasie have all had sights of goal too, but for all of their possession and territory Southampton have struggled to create any really clear openings since falling behind.
7.02pmTheir best chance of the half came just three minutes in when Long and Clasie combined to find Rodriguez in space inside the area, but the forward's first touch was poor and the defence were able to get back and make a challenge. Sparta had a half-chance of their own moments later when Lafata almost pounced on a backward header by Hojbjerg, only to fall just short of getting his foot on the ball.
46 minKICKOFF: Sparta get us back underway for the second half here as they look to hold out for a result that will guarantee their place in the last 32.
48 minThe onus is entirely on Southampton to do something that will break through this Sparta side now. They haven't done enough in the final third so far and may need to start taking a few more risks.
49 minPoor from Yoshida as he drags a speculative long-range strike well wide to relieve some of the pressure for Sparta.
51 minThis second half has quickly dropped into the same rhythm as the first - Southampton dominating possession without really doing too much with it. How long before we see Charlie Austin, I wonder?
53 minSparta make a rare break forward of their own as Holzer lifts the ball into the box, but it is a poor delivery and Forster comfortably collects it.
55 minSOUTHAMPTON SUB: The visitors make their first change of the evening, but it is an enforced one as Hojbjerg goes down with an injury. He is unable to continue, so on comes Oriol Romeu in his place.
56 minSOUTHAMPTON SUB: That is quickly followed by a second change as Rodriguez is replaced by Sofiane Boufal.
56 minSAVE! A rare save for Forster to make here as Karavaev gets a shot away from the edge of the box. It is a simple one for the keeper, but he makes a bit of a mess of his save, pushing it back out into a dangerous area. Fortunately for the Southampton stopper, though, a teammate is there to complete the clearance.
58 minSAVE! Another save from Forster, and again it comes from a free kick which Southampton fail to defend against. This time it is Lafata who makes the run in behind the defence and is not tracked, but he can't get anything on the delivery. However, the ball bounces through and looks like nestling into the bottom corner until Forster reacts to push it away.
60 minUPDATE: There has been a third goal in the game between Be'er Sheva and Inter, and it is the hosts who have pulled a goal back in Israel. They trail 2-1 now.
62 minSparta are enjoying a better spell now, and they almost double their lead in fortuitous circumstances here as a mis-hit cross from Julis almost sneaks over Forster, but ends up on the roof of the net.
65 minCLOSE! All of a sudden Sparta look most likely to get the game's second goal here! Marecek is so close to scoring it here as he lets fly from just outside the area, but with Forster well beaten the ball flies just wide.
67 minSparta have spent the vast majority of this match on the back foot, but they have had a couple of attacks in the last 10 minutes or so and look dangerous whenever they do come forward. Southampton, on the other hand, don't look like scoring at all at the moment.
68 minCHANCE! Another chance for the home side to give themselves a cushion here! It is all very messy at the back for Southampton as the ball squirms past Yoshida and into the path of Dockal, but his low drive is well saved by Forster.
71 minSouthampton win a free kick in a good position and Ward-Prowse delivers a decent ball into the box, but it is just out of the reach of Van Dijk and Lafata clears the danger before it can reach Long.
72 minSOUTHAMPTON SUB: A third and final change from the visitors sees Charlie Austin replace Clasie. Attacking move from Puel!
74 minUPDATE: There is big news coming in from Israel as Hapoel Be'er Sheva have equalised against Inter Milan having recovered from a two-goal deficit. What's more, Inter have had their goalkeeper sent off as they edge ever closer to a Europa League exit.
76 minConcern over the Sparta keeper here as he stays down after a collision with Long while the Southampton man was challenging aerially. There was nothing malicious in the challenge, though, and the keeper should be fine to continue.
78 minSHOT! Better from Long as he drives forward down the middle of the pitch before going for goal, but the ball flies comfortably wide of the target.
79 minCHANCE! Crucial interception from Mazuch as he slides in at the front post to turn Long's low cross behind for a corner. The resulting delivery is met by Van Dijk, but he plants a firm header over the top when he should have done better.
81 minLess than 10 minutes remaining for Southampton to get an equalising goal here, but that Van Dijk header aside they really haven't looked like scoring in this second half. Claude Puel will be very disappointed with how his side have played tonight.
83 minSouthampton have just lacked an attacking spark in the final third tonight. Dusan Tadic can add that creativity and Southampton have really missed him tonight. The likes of Redmond and Long have really struggled to make inroads.
85 minYoshida tries to thread a pass inside the full-back for Boufal to race on to, but it travels all the way behind for a goal kick, much to the frustration of the winger.
88 minSPARTA SUB: Change for the home side here as Lafata makes a lengthy departure to be replaced by the young Filip Havelka.
90 minSPARTA SUB: Another change for the home side as Vaclav Dudl replaces Holzer.
90+1 minThere will be a minimum of four minutes added time at the end of this match.
90+3 minSPARTA SUB: The third and final change for the hosts sees Daniel Kostl replace Julis.
90+5 minFULL TIME: Sparta Prague 1-0 Southampton
7.58pmThe full-time whistle blows in Prague, and it is the home side who are celebrating as they seal their place in the last 32 as Group K winners. Costa got the only goal of tonight's game in the 11th minute to make it four wins on the bounce in Europe for Sparta, while Southampton must wait until matchday six to determine their future in the competition. They will host Hapoel Be'er Sheva knowing that only a win or a 0-0 draw will be enough for them to progress.
8pmRight, that is all we have time for this evening! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for tonight's match as Southampton slump to a 1-0 defeat in Prague, denting their hopes of reaching the knockout stages of the Europa League. I will leave you with our match report, and be sure to stick around for reaction too. From me, though, it is goodbye for now!
