0 SOUTHAMPTON highlights real ability

Town continued to dominate the rest of the first-half but were unable to find a way through a stubborn Saints defence, marshalled by the impressive Forster in goal.

First he denied Tom Ince’s first time strike from a Zanka long ball with a finger-tip save, before recovering well to deny Kachunga with his feet after appearing stranded on the deck.

The second-half began as a more low-key affair and, with the intensity dropping a little, Wagner introduced the tenacious duo of Kasey Palmer and Danny Williams to liven up proceedings.

The introduction of Palmer into the ‘Number 10’ role saw Ince move into the left wing position vacated by the substituted Van La Parra – and he was soon causing havoc.

Minutes after the switch his teasing ball across the face of goal was inches away from Mounie’s boot and Yoshida was then forced to make two superb blocks from Kachunga and Mooy after his initial strike had Saints’ defensive sprawling.

The final 10 minutes became a ragged affair and, with space opening up across the pitch, it was Southampton who could have grabbed all three points.

Substitute Shane Long held the ball up well and to bring Redmond into the game, but the winger’s curling effort from the edge of the box was superbly denied by Lossl in the Town goal.

Then, as the game entered stoppage time, captain Smith was forced to hook the ball off the line as Ryan Bertrand’s header seemed destined for the back of the net.

That would have been agonising for Town after the terrific display they put in.

In the end it was honours even, with Town arguably the more disappointed of the two sides – a testament to how well Wagner’s side have already acclimatised to Premier League life. Davis finds Redmond in the box, but the winger puts his shot fractionally wide of the post. Let off for Town.