Match Review: Southampton 1 Boro 1

A last-minute equaliser from Emmanuel Latte Lath secured Michael Carrick's side a deserved point at Southampton.

Decimated by injuries with 11 players out, including six defenders, Boro made light of things against a team who were looking to maintain their automatic promotion hopes.

After conceding early, Boro were excellent for the remainder of the contest and were rewarded when Latte Lath got on the end of an Alex Gilbert cross in the final minute to secure a point.

Carrick had been forced into making three changes to his starting line-up and was once again dealing with an ever-increasing injury list that now included Marcus Forss, Riley McGree, and Paddy McNair while Tom Glover had returned to Teesside before the game due to illness.

Jonny Howson reverted to a central defensive role for this one while Dan Barlaser came into the middle of the park.

Boro were behind inside 12 minutes when a sliced defensive clearance fell straight to the feet of the prolific Adam Armstrong, who made no mistake from around 15 yards out.

Moments later, the Saints striker had another opportunity, but he was denied by the fingertips of Seny Dieng.

As expected, Southampton looked to dominate possession, but the home side had the width of a post to thank when Finn Azaz worked himself an opening shortly before the half-hour. His shot had Gavin Bazunu scrambling, but the ball came back off the post to safety when another angle would have seen Emmanuel Latte Lath with a tap-in from close range.

Izzy Jones almost picked out Latte Lath with a great low cross when Boro threatened again with the striker inches away from getting the decisive touch.

Since conceding the early goal, Boro had played well and had clearly grown in confidence. And it was that the first chance of the second half came the way of Carrick’s men when Azaz released Latte Lath and he was denied by a brave stop by Bazunu.

Che Adams did have the ball in the net for Southampton on 52 minutes after Kamaldeen Sulemana ball evaded Dieng, but an offside flag was raised. Moments later, Adams did escape a flag to find himself in acres of space to score, but Dieng pulled off the save.

And to complete a trio of ‘so close’ moments for Adams, he then shot wide from close range after the ball deflected through to him when well placed to score once again.

That was the cue for Boro to enjoy another good spell of pressure, playing some neat stuff and looking a threat. Jones was twice halted in his tracks by an offside flag, and Latte Lath was crowded out as he looked to bustle through on goal, following good work by Azaz.

Greenwood also had a shot blocked as the home side looked to protect their slender lead.

That said, Dieng made an outstanding double save to deny Armstrong and that proved the catalyst for a quick counter that saw Jones denied by a last-ditch tackle when through on goal.

Boro threatened again and Bazunu almost made a real hash of a ball into the box, while at the other end, Dieng saved well again.

It looked as though Boro were going to be hard done by and emerge with nothing, but when substitute Gilbert floated the ball into the box, Latte Lath was on hand to send the near 2,000 travelling fans into ecstasy by securing a deserved point.