Another Jekyll-and-Hyde performance saw Saints dominate the first half but cling on to a point in the second period. Lloyd James gave Saints the lead early on, but Leon Legge equalised with 7 minutes to go.
Day on the beer and camera = poor photo.
With Saints still competing in three competitions, Alan Pardew dealt with the congestion of the fixture schedule by recalling Seaborne, Fonte and Otsemobor to the defence at the expense of Jaidi, Perry and Thomas, who had featured in the FA Cup at the weekend. Lee Barnard made his first league start since his move from Southend United and Morgan Schneiderlin lined up on the bench after seeing his three match ban for a red card successfully rescinded.
Saints made their intentions for the game known very early on, as they attacked from the kick off. Michail Antonio hurried onto a long ball through the middle and lobbed over the onrushing Brentford goalkeeper Szczesny, but the ball went harmlessly wide.
They found their range soon after though with a wonderful strike in just the fourth minute. A long throw down the left hand side found Lambert, who saw his chipped pass sit up perfectly for LLOYD JAMES to hit a dipping volley into the top corner of the net, which saw the keeper well beaten.
Brentford looked particularly threatening down the left hand side, where Jon Otsemobor struggled to deal with winger, Weston and full back, Dickson, who both were willing to bomb forward whenever possible. And after Weston saw his low effort go across the face of goal, Dickson made a good run down the flank and crossed for Macdonald who flicked the ball inches wide.
The away side continued to produce chances and after Barnard headed wide and Antonio shot into the side netting, the pair combined for a great chance to double the lead. Barnard fed Antonio and the winger cut inside well, before seeing his low drive tipped agonisingly onto the post by Szczesny.
Uncertainty at the heart of the Brentford almost cost them dear when they had three chances to clear the ball, but couldn’t get it away. Smith’s interception only went as far to Lallana on the edge of the box and the midfielder had goal number 13 of a productive season in his sights, but saw his curling effort crash back off the cross bar.
But as the half went by it was The Bees who started to get better control on the game in midfield and they, themselves were unlucky not to find the net when captain, O’Connor’s volley tested Davis at full stretch.
The half ended in disappointment though as Lloyd James was forced off with injury, depleting midfield options further with Hammond already out injured. And so it proved fortunate that Schneiderlin was able to come on after just serving a one match ban, rather than three.
Half Time: Brentford 0-1 Southampton
Southampton came out for the second half looking to start it as they had the first and almost did exactly that. Lallana’s long ball forward was inch perfect for Barnard, who brought the ball down well, left Legge for dead and turned Smith inside out, before somehow failing to do the easy bit and firing the ball wide with the goal at his mercy.
The hosts started to attack with more urgency as they looked to level the game and again were unfortunate to find Davis in great form - Macdonald found Weston in space in the penalty area and the midfielder’s ferocious shot was somehow tipped over the bar at point blank range.
The Saints defence started to ride their luck a little bit, not least when from the resulting corner, Bean was found with too much space and his goal bound effort was desperately scrambled off the line by Mills.
Lambert tried his luck from distance; after Barnard’s pressure had forced a poor clearance from Szczesny, but saw his speculative effort go well wide, while Barnard continued to atone for his earlier miss by working hard around the box; setting up Lallana who saw his curling effort parried wide.
And with the away side failing to extend their lead, it was starting to look a fragile one. Wotton’s legs were looking tired and weary; similarly Schneiderlin was struggling to get to grips with a very poor pitch, as the centre of midfield looked vulnerable.
Brentford had just introduced Saunders to the game and he looked energetic in midfield and didn’t take long to make an impact. He picked up the ball and played a one two with Macdonald, before seeing his near post shot parried by Davis into the path of to Macdonald, but the striker could only find the post with his shot from a tight angle.
The game’s turning point came when the referee awarded a questionably soft penalty to the home side - after Wotton was judged to have handled in the area. Justice was done when O’Connor stepped up to take the spot kick, but saw his low effort met with a strong hand by Davis, to his right.
Despite this miss, the hosts continued, and upped their pressure in the game and netted a deserved equaliser with just seven minutes to go. Dickson again got forward down the left hand side and his cross was met with a thumping header by LEGGE who had ghosted into the box unnoticed in-between Fonte and Seaborne.
Full Time: Brentford 1-1 Southampton
