A late goal from substitute Jay Rodriguez earned lacklustre Southampton a point against Sunderland at St Mary’s.
Saints, however, will feel more hard done by than their opponents as they spurned several chances to take the lead and were very much the better side in the opening stages of the game, with their first real chance falling to Dusan Tadic, whose strike flew inches over rookie ‘keeper Jordan Pickford’s crossbar.
Claude Puel handed a first start of the season to striker Charlie Austin and the former QPR man had a great chance to put the Saints ahead, however, his fierce long range drive was beaten away by Pickford.
It was Austin again with a good chance for Puel’s men, however he could only scuff his close range shot into Pickford’s gloves. The offside flag was raised, however, to spare his blushes.
It was a very much uneventful first forty-five minutes, although David Moyes’ side did improve and had a glorious opportunity to take the lead, with centre-back Lamine Kone heading wide from close range. Sunderland, though, will feel as though they should’ve been awarded a penalty in the build up after Fabio Borini appeared to be bundled over in the area by Saints skipper Jose Fonte.
The second half was very much a similar story, with neither side offering much in the way of quality in what was a cagey affair on the South Coast.
The visitors did have a good chance to break the deadlock just after the hour mark. After Manchester United loanee Adnan Januzaj was brought down on the edge of the area after a mazy run. Borini stepped up for the free-kick but could only fire a low shot into Fraser Forster’s gloves.
The Black Cats’ young goalkeeper continued to frustrate the hosts in the second half, parrying a low, fizzing, long-range drive from Saints substitute Shane Long at his near post.
Pickford again was called into action two minutes later, the 22 year-old doing well at his near post again to keep out Nathan Remond’s deflected drive.
On 78 minutes, the game swung in Sunderland’s favour. After veteran striker Jermain Defoe was clumsily brought down by Jose Fonte’s traling leg in the area; referee Lee Mason had no hesitation in awarding a penalty. Defoe then duly picked himself up to fire the penalty past Fraser Forster to put the visitors ahead.
However, the lead only lasted five minutes. Substitute Jay Rodriguez fired a tame shot from 20-yards out, only for the ball to squirm under the unfortunate Jordan Pickford in the Sunderland goal. This was Rodriguez’s first league goal for the club since March 2014. Pickford will feel extremely hard done by, as he had kept Southampton at bay superbly until this point.
The hosts could’ve won the game shortly afterwards, however Matt Targett’s free-kick flew agonisingly wide of the post.
However, neither side managed to find a winner in the closing stages and 1-1 it finished with both sides still searching for their first three points of the season.
Arsenal away next up for the Saints after the international break as they hope for a repeat of the scoreline between the two sides on boxing day of last season, although it looks to be a much tougher test for Claude Puel’s side.
