As expected, both Léo Scienza and Ross Stewart were unavailable due to injury. Tonda Eckert shuffled his pack and opted to play five across the middle with Cameron Bragg in the holding role.
The Saints were almost ahead within ten minutes when a cleverly worked free-kick found Kuryu Matsuki unmarked beyond the far post. The Japanese winger headed the ball back across the six-yard box, where Cyle Larin controlled the ball on his chest. Unfortunately for the Canadian, his snatched effort slid just wide of the left-hand post.
Coventry City's Ephron Mason-Clark caused Southampton persistent problems down the left in the first half hour. James Bree and Matsuki had to work hard to shut down the space that the Coventry winger had to work in.
A swift counter-attack almost got Larin in behind, but good covering defence snuffed out the Canadian as he tried to cut in from the right.
Luke Woolfenden should have put the home side ahead when he got above Jack Stephens at the far post following a cross from a short corner. However, the 27-year-old centre back could only manage to steer his weak header wide of the far post.
Peretz makes a wonder save to keep scoreline level
Southampton goalkeeper, Daniel Peretz, kept the scoreline level with an outstanding save a couple of minutes before half-time. Liam Kitching found himself free in the box, and he must have thought he had scored when his powerful header looked destined for the corner of the net.
Peretz had other ideas, and he flew to his left sharply to get a strong hand to the ball, sending it wide of the post.
Mason-Clark found enough room to get a cross into the box in additional time at the end of the first half. His cross picked out Haji Wright on the penalty spot, who volleyed his shot wide of the left-hand post with Peretz stranded.