Southampton remain in the drop zone after failing to break the deadlock against Queens Park Rangers at St Mary’s on Saturday.
The game was a ‘must win’ for both sides, with the Saints needing the points to leap-frog Barnsley and Forest who both lost at the weekend, whilst Rangers wanted a win to get their play-off dreams back on track.
The draw doesn’t do a lot for either side, and both sets of fans left the stadium with a sense of frustration and disappointment.
It was the home side who started the brightest, with Jamaican international Jason Euell taking the ball around Radek Cerny, only to see his shot sail past the post in the second minute.
Rangers fired back, but Mikele Leigertwood’s 20-yard effort went just past Kelvin Davis’ post after Dexter Blackstock set up the central midfielder.
The visitors continued to press and should have taken the lead in the 20th minute, but winger Wayne Routledge headed over from three yards after Liam Miller’s corner was headed down by Kaspars Gorkss.
The Saints then went close five minutes before the break, when David McGoldrick flicked on for Euell, but his shot was gathered at the second attempt by Cerny in the R’s goal.
The second half commenced with Jordi Lopez going close for Rangers, but his shot deflected just wide of Davis’ post.
Euell and Lallana then went close for the Saints, but Euell’s volley and Lallana’s shot did not worry the QPR fans.
R’s boss Paulo Sousa then brought on recent loan signing Adel Taarabt, who joined from Tottenham until the end of the season, and the youngster nearly scored on his debut. With the game drawing to a close, Taarabt cut inside from the left, but he could only fire his shot into the side netting with Davis well beaten.
With 90 minutes on the clock, Saints’ substitute Jake Thomson swung in a cross from the right which found its way through to Andrew Surman, but the 21-year-old’s effort was blocked and cleared from danger, much to the disappointment of the St Mary’s faithful.
Next up for the Saints is a massive game at Bloomfield Road where Mark Wotte’s side will face fellow strugglers Blackpool on Saturday. The Seasider’s recorded a much needed win at the weekend, having beaten Barnsley 1-0 at Oakwell.
After drawing their last two home games, the Saints need to re-group and figure out a way to break down the Blackpool defense as they bid to come back to the south coast with all three points.
Saints team:
Davis, James, Saeijs, Perry, Skacel, Lallana (Thomson 74), Gillett, McGoldrick, Surman, Euell, Saganowski (Wright-Phillips 77).
Subs not used: Forecast, Wotton, Liptak.
QPR team:
Cerny, Ramage, Stewart, Gorkss, Connolly, Ephraim (Taarabt 78), Miller (German 71), Lopez (Mahon 87), Leigertwood, Routledge, Blackstock.
Subs not used: Hall, Alberti.