1 ................... TOWN super Town fightback
Austin is charged by FA over Lossl ‘kick’
catching keeper Lossl in the face with a very late boot, but miraculously escaped punishment from referee Lee Probert.
Despite the injury to his nose, shortly afterwards the keeper made a superb save to deny Dusan Tadic from point-blank range following a Nathan Redmond-led breakaway for the hosts.
Town’s defensive organisation waned badly towards the end of the first half, with Southampton – who entered the match with one win in their last nine outings – looking likelier to net the second goal.
After the break, Southampton could have had the game wrapped up with half an hour to go as Redmond’s direct run sliced Town open.
The English youngster found an unmarked Austin on the six-yard box, but he fired wide of both his previous victim Lossl and the far post – much to the Town fans’ delight.
And that miss would cost the Saints dearly.
Minutes later, Tommy Smith – on for Hadergjonaj - clipped a beautiful ball onto the head of the big Belgian Depoitre, who could not miss from three yards out.
It was Smith’s first Premier League assist.
In what was an open, nail-biting second period, both sides had pressure on the other’s box, but it was more down to a lack of defensive shape from both teams, rather than incisive attacking play.
Southampton could have snatched it at the end through a set piece, when Matt Targett’s whipped free-kick was headed powerfully onto a post by Japan international Maya Yoshida.
It ended honours even at St Mary’s, however, and Town’s fans and players alike enjoyed that fightback point. TOWN boss David Wagner accused Southampton striker Charlie Austin of deliberately kicking keeper Jonas Lossl in the face during the 1-1 draw at St Mary’s.
Wagner felt Austin kicked Lossl “on purpose”, leaving the Danish keeper with a bloodied face and suspected broken nose.
Austin, who struck his fifth goal in five starts before departing with a hamstring injury, avoided punishment for the incident during the contest, but is facing a retrospective suspension after being charged with violent conduct by the FA.
“After seeing the video footage, this should usually never happen, that an opponent hurts another opponent on purpose,” Wagner said of Austin’s challenge on Lossl.
“I don’t like to say this, but it looks this way. Jonas as well was absolutely surprised. This was a nasty challenge and nothing I like to see.
“Jonas is OK, even if he doesn’t look OK.
“I think he looks like this challenge was very ugly and nasty. This should never happen. Charlie Austin made the wrong decision in this moment.
“I was very happy that Jonas was so calm, or maybe he was so surprised and had so much pain that he couldn’t react how me might otherwise.
“It’s swelling and of course he had a cut, but I don’t think he needs stitches.
“His wife will not be happy with how he looks, but hopefully he’ll be available on Boxing Day.”
Laurent Depoitre’s third goal in as many games secured the visitors a share of the spoils, and left Saints with just one win in 10 league matches. ■■Championship managers Carlos Carvalhal and Garry Monk faced each other on Saturday – but both lost their jobs in the wake of Sheffield Wednesday’s 2-1 home defeat by Middlesbrough.
Monk went first at Boro, after four defeats in seven games.
Then Wednesday announced Carvalhal had left Hillsborough by mutual consent.
The Portuguese guided the Owls to the play-offs in his first two seasons but was in a seven-game winless run.