SOUTHAMPTON concede a “Rubbish” 90th minute equaliser to Middlesbrough, potentially ending hopes of finishing in the top two of the Championship.
Saints manager Russell Martin said he is: “Incredibly frustrated… we had to defend with our lives and we conceded a rubbish goal at the end.”
The Saints opened the scoring in the 12th minute, Kamaldeen Sulemana crossed the ball but the Middlesbrough defender failed to clear the ball which landed to Adam Armstrong who slotted the ball into the bottom left corner.
As the South coast team defended their lead, Martin branded the final 15 minutes of the first-half as: “A nothing half with no energy.”
Che Adams found the back of the net in the 53rd minute but the linesman’s flag quickly rose up for offside.
Two minutes later Adams was in again, this time one on one with Boro keeper Seny Dieng who pulled of a great diving save to the right.
Adams had possibly the best chance of the lot a minute later, six yards out but put the ball wide, which capped of a stunningly miserable few minutes for the Saints striker.
Despite the missed chances, Martin claimed his misses: “Were not the reason we didn’t win.”
Middlesbrough piled on the pressure towards the final whistle, substitute Alexander Gilbert crossed the ball which found the head of Emmanuel Latte, salvaging a point in the 90th minute.
Boro manager Michael Carrick was convinced his boys deserved the draw: “I’m so pleased with the boy’s, I feel we had really good opportunities.
“I was desperate to get something from the game because of the effort the lad’s put into the game.”
Leicester City’s loss in the early kick-off to Bristol City, the Saint’s failed to pounce on the opportunity to put more pressure on the struggling foxes.
However, Martin is looking forward to Monday’s game for Southampton away to high flying Ipswich Town: “The game we have on Monday is perfect.
“There will be twists and turns all the way along the rest of the season… crazy results and people feel pressure differently
Coming off three weeks of no football for the Saints, Martin said they: “failed the get in a rhythm… and they will be better on Monday.
“We will use the frustration we feel and turn it into a positive.”
Southampton have 10 games to go and play all the top three teams of the Championship away, Martin stated that: “We can’t ask for a better opportunity.
“I’m really excited and its going to be a brilliant challenge, and it means we will still be in the mix”.
