Jason Scotland’s late deflected goal secured the Blues a deserved 1-1 draw at Southampton. The Saints went ahead in the 74th minute via top scorer Rickie Lambert but Scotland’s goal five minutes from the end claimed the point for Town.
Paul Jewell named the same side and subs which beat Bristol City 3-0 at Portman Road on Saturday. Former Blue Dan Harding was one of four changes for the Saints, while ex-Town keeper Kelvin Davis was in goal.
The first danger of the game came in the third minute, Adam Lallana sending over a cross from the left, which Aaron Cresswell put out of play at the far post. From Harding’s corner, Rickie Lambert shot over.
The Championship’s 20-goal top scorer threatened again three minutes later from another corner, his far post header being nodded off the line by Tommy Smith. The ball was headed back in and Lambert put it over but the flag had already been raised.
Town’s first chance came on eight, Michael Chopra diverting Daryl Murphy’s cross from the left over.
There was a scare for the Blues moments later when keeper Alex McCarthy waited for the ball to come on to him on the edge of his area with Tadanari Lee chasing in. The Japanese striker slid in to stab the ball behind the on-loan Reading man, who fortunately for Town was able to claim at the second attempt.
The home side had started strongly with Lallana’s pace down the left and Lee’s sharpness in the middle the main threats. On 10 there were appeals for a penalty from the home crowd but Smith had done no more than out-muscle Lambert.
Jay Emmanuel-Thomas had been quiet for the opening spell but came close to scoring on 20 when, after Smith had won the ball from Lee, he cut in from the right and hit a powerful low shot, which Davis pushed past his post.
The Saints should have gone in front in the 23rd minute when a flowing move down the right saw Lambert find Lee, who in turn found skipper Dean Hammond, who cleverly fed Lallana rushing in from the left unmarked. Fortunately for Town, McCarthy was out quickly to block.
Lallana came close again on 26 when played in by midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin but Carlos Edwards got a toe in to put the ball behind. The Saints were by now well on top and might have gone ahead from the corner, Guly heading wide when he ought to have hit the target.
It wasn’t all one-way traffic however, and on 29 Martin sent a dangerous ball across the Southampton box but too far in front of Chopra.
On 38 Leadbitter shot wide from distance after a freekick had been taken short to him, Martin having been fouled by Hammond.
Town were more in the game as half-time approached, keeping the ball for long spells but without seriously threatening Kelvin Davis’s goal. But the Saints were continuing to look the more dangerous side when breaking, on several occasions after the Blues had given the ball away too cheaply, although the home side were similarly guilty, much to the annoyance of the home fans.
Moments before the fourth official signalled an additional minute, Lambert hit a low shot which McCarthy claimed comfortably.
Town boss Paul Jewell will have been reasonably happy with the situation at the break. As expected, the Saints had had the better of the half and of the chances — with McCarthy making one very important save - but the scores were still level and his side had increasingly come into the game as the half wore on.
Martin hit the second period’s first strike over in the 50th minute but having been offside when Cresswell played his cross in from the left.
The Blues were starting the new half as they had ended the first and on 52 they came close to scoring. Andy Drury whipped in a cross from the right which Chopra met perfectly with his head from six yards, only for ex-Blue Davis to block superbly. From the resultant corner, the ball falling to Leadbitter, who volleyed powerfully over.
Town were on top with the home crowd trying to lift their side. On 55 Chopra wasted an opportunity when he failed to find Emmanuel-Thomas on the edge of the area with the Blues in a promising situation.
Southampton wasted an even better chance two minutes later after Lambert blocked a McCarthy kick. Guly played a one-two with the Saints’ frontman and broke through on goal, only to scuff wide with only McCarthy to beat.
Despite that hiccup, it was still mainly the Blues but without the clear-cut chance which might lead to a goal. On 62 a corner came out to Cresswell but his very powerful strike hit Chopra and was cleared.
Southampton won a couple of corners, Lambert heading the last of them wide, then Murphy was booked for a foul, moments after the Irishman had been left in a heap by a Guly challenge which had looked similarly cautionable.
Despite Town having been on top for much of the half, the home side went in front in the 74th minute when sub Steve De Ridder cut the ball back from the right to Lambert, who slammed home his 21st goal of the season from 10 yards.
The goal was harsh on the Blues, who moved quickly to try to get back into the game, Ryan Stevenson and Jason Scotland replacing Murphy and Drury in a more orthodox 4-4-2 with Martin wide on the left.
Lambert went close to his second on 77 in similar circumstances to his goal, then sub Billy Sharp scuffed well wide.
Town deservedly got back on terms in the 85th minute. Scotland chased an Edwards ball into the right corner, then brought it back in past a number of defenders before unleashing a shot which deflected past Davis and into the net for his sixth goal of the season.
Former Blue Dan Harding got his name in the book in the 87th minute for a foul on Chopra after the Town striker had seized on his error and was taking the ball towards the area in space. Bowyer laid the freekick off to Emmanuel-Thomas, who shot flew inches past Davis’s right post.
There was a scare for Davis in injury time as a clearance cannoned off Chopra but into his arms and there were few further chances before referee Drysdale blew his whistle for the last time.
Having survived the first half, the Blues continued to improve in the second period and the Southampton goal was a bit harsh on them when it came.
Scotland’s goal was deserved, even if it did take a deflection, with the Trinidadian having done well to carve out the opportunity in the first place.
Town boss Paul Jewell will be delighted with the draw, particularly away from home against a team which beat his side 5-2 at Portman Road early in the season.
Southampton: Davis, Richardson, Fonte, Hooiveld, Harding, Guly (De Ridder 70), Hammond, Schneiderlin, Lallana (Cork 83), Lambert, Lee (Sharp 75). Subs: Martin, Connolly.
Town: McCarthy, Edwards, Smith, Delaney, Cresswell, Leadbitter (Bowyer 83), Drury (Scotland 77), Emmanuel-Thomas, Martin, Murphy (Stevenson 77), Chopra. Subs: Lee-Barrett, Sonko. Referee: Darren Drysdale (Lincolnshire). Att: 23,315 (Town: 901).