Southampton 1-1 Crystal Palace: Zaha sees red as Saints rescue late point
By Marc Walker
James Ward-Prowse’s third goal in three games saw Southampton claim a late point against Crystal Palace this evening.
Wilfried Zaha’s goal shortly before half-time had given Palace a deserved lead, but Ward-Prowse struck with 13 minutes remaining to ensure a share of the spoils at St Mary’s.
In a fairly cagey first-half, good chances came at a premium in the opening 20 minutes.
Both Luka Milivojevic and James McArthur missed the target from good positions just outside the Saints area before Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg forced a smart low stop from visiting keeper Vicente Guaita.
Whilst Palace looks to be a threat on the counter and Wilfried Zaha looking lively as always, Saints were producing some decent moves of their own.
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Both sides were finding some determined defending and strong challenges in their way as they looked to find the opening goal though.
That was until the away side snatched a potentially crucial lead four minutes before the break through their key man.
The ball broke to Zaha inside the area and he used the angle he had well to cut inside Yan Valery and fire low past Alex McCarthy.
After being so used to going ahead in games under Ralph Hasenhuttl, it was now Saints’ turn to work their way back into a game and come from behind to get another positive result.
Early in the second period, Palace thought they had got a second to cement a commanding position in the game. Mamadou Sakho turned the ball into the net but referee Andre Marriner gave a free-kick for a push on McCarthy.
Sakho was clearly wanting to get on the scoresheet and he very nearly did with 15 minutes left. A corner wasn’t cleared by Saints and the Frenchman stabbed towards goal, but a superb clearance off the line from Jan Bednarek kept the ball from going in.
Ralph Hasenhuttl then switched to a back-four for the final stages of the game and that seemed to produce some added attacking force to his side; resulting in a vital late equaliser.
A well worked move down the left saw Matt Targett get to the byline and produce a cutback towards the penalty spot where James Ward-Prowse struck firmly into the bottom corner.
Saints fans will be wondering where the midfielder’s sparkling form has come from as that made it three goals in three Premier League games for a player rumoured to be on his way out of the club recently.
The 24-year-old would be involved in the action again soon after, but for different reasons entirely.
He tangled with Zaha by the touchline but the Palace man’s reaction saw him lash out at Ward-Prowse. This got him a yellow card, but he then proceeded to sarcastically clap the referee’s call and received his marching orders.
However, Roy Hodgson’s men held on in the final minutes to take a deserved share of the spoils from St Mary’s.