A Charlie Austin brace helped Southampton to a 2-2 draw at Brentford, in a game that Saints dominated for large periods.
In what was Southampton’s first pre-season friendly on home soil, Saints started brightly, with strike duo Austin and Shane Long both seeing headers tipped over the bar by Brentford keeper Daniel Bentley.
The home side nearly took the lead in the 23rd minute, when Spanish playmaker Jota skilfully ran through the Saints defence, before narrowly slotting his shot wide of the far post.
Then, five minutes before half-time, Brentford struck first, as Sergi Canos got in behind Saints’ back line, before pulling back a cross for danger man Lasse Vibe, who poked The Bees ahead.
After the interval, a rejuvenated Saints responded well, and after a Sofiane Boufal superb solo run, his chip went whiskers wide of the left-hand post. Saints were rewarded in the 53rd minute, as a mix-up between two Brentford defenders allowed last year’s top scorer Charlie Austin to slot under Bentley to make it 1-1.
On the hour mark, Saints’ pressure paid off, as Austin was on hand to convert a Sam McQueen cross high into the roof the net, sending the away fans behind the goal into raptures.
However, there was one another twist in the tale as the Bees found their sting, and in the 82nd minute, a Josh Clarke cross slipped through Fraser Forster’s grasp, and in to the net, although the 29-year-old was adamant that he was fouled by Brentford substitute Neal Maupay.
Brentford were on top for the last minutes of the game, as they tested Saints’ resilience at the back, but the affair ended with the honours even.
