Southampton 1 Crystal Palace 1: Saints denied first win since Feb 1 as Franca spares Eagles’ blushes in added time
MATHEUS FRANCA heaped more misery on Southampton – leaving Ivan Juric’s side with more work to do to avoid a Premier League low.
Paul Onuachu’s first half header appeared to set Saints on course for the win that would take his side past Derby record low points tally of 11 set in 2008.
But Palace substitute Franca headed the equaliser in added time that denied Ivan Juric’s side a third league win of the season.
At least the draw meant the south coast club avoided the possibility of becoming the first Premier League club to go down with seven games remaining this weekend.
The admission by keeper Aaron Ramsdale ahead of this game that beating Derby’s tally was Southampton’s main aim summed up the club’s dire position.
And there was little suggest that the meeting with in-form Palace would bring relief.
The Eagles progress this season has led to Oliver Glasner being linked with RB Leipzig.
And they arrived at St Mary’s fresh from booking their place in the FA Cup semi-finals and a trip to Wembley.
The quarter-final win at Fulham last Saturday marked Palace’s seventh successive clean sheet on the road – and a club record sixth successive away win.
And the opening seconds only reinforced the sense that Glasner’s side were in the mood to keep their impressive away streak growing.
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The way Jean-Philippe Mateta easily turned Jan Bednarek sounded a warning – and Ramsdale was then relieved to see the striker thundering long-range shot crash against the underside of bar and away to safety.
With two minutes gone it looked as though it would be a case of same old, same old for Saints.
But to their credit they put that early shock behind them and began to pressure Palace.
Mateus Fernandes was prominent in their best moves and the playmaker gave the visitors a scare when his deflected shot looped over the bar.
The effort appeared to give Saints a lift and Juric’s side continued to press forward.
And their efforts were rewarded in the 20th minute when Onuachu headed them in front with his fourth goal of the season.
Fernandes was at the heart of the move as he exchanged passes with Flynn Downes to make progress on the right.
And the playmaker then whipped in a cross that Onuachu headed downwards and past Dean Henderson.
Southampton were in unfamiliar territory and the St Mary’s crowd were determined to enjoy it, launching into a tongue-in-cheek chant of “we are staying up”.
Glasner will have expected to the goal to have fired his side into life.
But there was little sign of a response from the visitors who continued to labour in the final third.
And when Mateta did produce a smart turn and shot after being picked out by Daniel Munoz, Ramsdale reacted well to save low to his left.
A strong run by Ismaila Sarr at the start of the second half suggested Palace were ready to fight back – but Eberechi Eze’s poor finish meant the chance was wasted.
And from that point Saints rarely looked like missing out on only a second home league win until Franca struck.