Saints star Austin looks to future after third goal in three
SOUTHAMPTON striker Charlie Austin had one eye on the tough fixture schedule ahead after claiming a second-half equaliser in a 1-1 Premier League draw with Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium.
The home side went ahead four minutes before the break as Ryan Fraser collected Andrew Surman’s pass just inside the 18-yard box and slotted the ball under a diving Fraser Forster for a half-time lead.
Saints’ pressure for an equaliser paid off just after the hour mark as Nathan Redmond’s low cutback found Austin, who fired home with a crisp finish for a share of the spoils.
Austin said: “It was a good per- formance, we changed it around in the second half so it’s a point — we go into a big December now.
“We deserved a goal if anything, we looked like we were going to nick it at the end but we had to be careful we weren’t going to throw it away either.”
Austin and Nathan Ake both went close with late headers but neither could find a winner, and Austin admitted he should have completed his brace. He said: “I think so, yeah. Front post, the same as last week, I think I should have scored but these things happen. You’ve got to be in the position...I was in the right place at the right time. I just couldn’t put the ball in the net.”
Austin’s goal was his third in three games and, coming on only his second league start this season, will offer Saints encouragement that he can be the solution to their scoring problems.