SOUTHAMPTON 0 SWANSEA CITY 0

SOUTHAMPTON’S goal drought at St Mary’s stretched to 545 minutes as they laboured to a frustrating Premier League stalemate against Swansea.

Saints wasted a host of chances to open their new campaign with only a galling draw against the insipid and limited visitors.

Mauricio Pellegrino’s side dominated virtually from start to finish, but lacked the killer instinct needed to clinch the three points.

Nathan Redmond and Ryan Bertrand combined to lay on scores of openings for their team-mates, but James Ward-Prowse, Manolo Gabbiadini and Dusan Tadic were all found wanting in front of goal.

Frenchman Claude Puel paid with his job in the summer for Saints’ inability to link midfield and attack and convert chances last term.

New boss Pellegrino already appears to have generated more impetus than Puel managed, but

the south-coast side were still left to rue opportunities missed.

Southampton threw everything at Swansea and should have held a comfortable lead at the break. Despite that dominance, the hosts were unable to break the deadlock.

Tammy Abraham should have scored from a free header, but instead nodded wide from what was Swansea’s sole chance of a disappointing half for the visitors.

Gabbiadini’s flicked header shaved the crossbar as early as the second minute, then Tadic side-footed wide from Bertrand’s cut-back.

Swansea started the brighter after the break, Abraham conjuring space well only to see his effort blocked and Leroy Fer failing to find the target with the rebound.

Gabbiadini curled wide as Saints opened up Swansea again, before Charlie Austin replaced the Italian up front.

As the game headed towards a finish Tadic brought a great save from Lukasz Fabianski and Maya Yoshida headed wide, but when Austin fired wide at the death, Saints knew their day would end in frustration.