Wagner’s tireless Terriers
end, but only Huddersfield left- back Chris Lowe’s lastditch tackle denied Davis a clear shot on goal as the visitors threatened again.
Town responded well. First, Elias Kachunga was thwarted by Maya Yoshida’s timely challenge, then Davis blocked Rajiv van La Parra’s shot as Wagner’s side went toe-to-toe with a side who have finished inside the top eight in each of the last four seasons.
Mounie’s scuffed a shot narrowly wide from Smith’s cross and Ince’s viciously dipping shot was turned away by Forster at full stretch.
The Saints’ stopper was then almost punished for spilling the ball straight to Kachunga, but the Town striker’s follow- up deflected away from goal off the keeper’s legs.
Southampton’s Mario Lemina and Manolo Gabbiadini combined early in the second period to serve the home side a warning, with the latter shooting tamely at Huddersfield goalkeeper Jonas Lossl.
Redmond pulled a shot off target and as both sides chased the breakthrough, Town midfielder Aaron Mooy crashed an angled shot straight at Yoshida.
Huddersfield’s harrying was relentless and there were signs it was wearing the visitors down, with substitute Kasey Palmer twice forcing errors from Saints defenders as the game entered the final 15 minutes.
Southampton had good reason to feel aggrieved soon after. Substitute James Ward-Prowse turned Zanka inside the penalty area and went to ground under the defender’s challenge, but referee Stuart Attwell was unmoved.
Video replays appeared to show Ward-Prowse had been caught by Zanka’s trailing foot.
The visitors finished the game strongly. Redmond’s shot was saved by Lossl and Smith rescued Wagner’s side in the closing stages when he cleared the ball off the goalline from Bertrand’s header.