Southampton’s hopes for only their third win of the season were dashed as Crystal Palace snatched a dramatic late equaliser, resulting in a 1-1 draw at St. Mary’s.
Paul Onuachu seemed to have secured the Saints their first Premier League victory in two months with his early goal, but substitute Matheus Franca’s stoppage-time header added to Southampton’s season-long struggles.
In recent days, Saints head coach Ivan Juric and goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale emphasised the importance of surpassing Derby County’s infamous 11-point tally from the 2007-08 season—the lowest recorded since the Premier League’s inception. However, following their 30th fixture of this dire campaign, Southampton remain agonisingly one point short of that total.
Indeed, the Saints were nearly punished early on when Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta saw his second-minute effort crash against the crossbar. Yet, the hosts were determined to take control and commanded the first half, looking like a side intent on avoiding an unwanted place in history.
Kamaldeen Sulemana and Kyle Walker-Peters posed bold questions to Palace with dynamic runs, while Mateus Fernandes effectively orchestrated the play in the advanced third of the pitch.
Having been promoted to the starting lineup after his heroics as a substitute against Wolves, Onuachu rewarded Juric by nodding home Fernandes’ precise cross in the 20th minute. Whilst Dean Henderson should perhaps have done better, the Palace custodian could only help the Nigerian’s powerful header into the net.
Ramsdale preserved Southampton’s advantage with a brilliant low stop from a Mateta swivel and strike, while Onuachu fired wide at the other end after capitalising on a loose Marc Guehi pass.
The 30-year-old frontman might have completed a first-half hat-trick but narrowly missed connecting with a tempting delivery from Walker-Peters at the far post.
Despite Southampton’s first-half dominance, Palace emerged revitalised after the break and could have levelled through Eberechi Eze, whose effort struck the side netting after a surging run from Ismaila Sarr.
Jan Bednarek nearly handed Palace a gifted equaliser with a risky back pass, but Ramsdale was quick to deny substitute Eddie Nketiah from capitalising.
Palace, having recovered from their winless first eight matches to enjoy a respectable campaign, showed persistence and were rewarded when Franca netted a last-gasp equaliser with a deft near-post header in the dying moments.
While the Saints ended their nine-match home losing streak, Juric avoided the ignominy of becoming just the third manager to lose his first seven Premier League home games. Nevertheless, Southampton remain anchored to the foot of the table with 10 points, languishing 19 points from safety with only eight games left.
Crystal Palace, meanwhile, hold 12th position, three points ahead of Manchester United as they continue their push up the table.
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