- Crystal Palace snatched a late point at St Mary’s thanks to Matheus Franca
- Southampton stayed rooted to the bottom of the Premier League on 10 points
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So close to overtaking Derby County’s risible record of 11 points set in 2007-08, but not quite yet.
Southampton remain one short after Crystal Palace substitute Matheus Franca sneaked his headed equaliser beyond Aaron Ramsdale amid eight minutes of stoppage time.
That came after Saints boss Ivan Juric challenged his team in midweek to avoid being crowned the worst in Premier League history.
That appeared a nifty motivational message when Paul Onuachu gave them a lead after 20 minutes. That was proof of what can happen if you cross the ball into the tallest striker in the land in 6ft 7in Onuachu.
Southampton held on to the lead until the very end, when Franca made sure that they will need to continue to work to beat Derby’s total.
Juric was mocked this week for saying at his pre-match press conference: ‘I don’t want it to be that we are the worst team in the history of Premier League.’
Substitute Matheus Franca scored a late equaliser as Crystal Palace drew 1-1 at Southampton
Southampton were heading for only their third win of the season after Paul Onuachu’s opener
Franca sneaked his header past goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale in the 92nd minute at St Mary’s
But then given how close they are to confirming their fate mathematically, he was only answering honestly on their remaining goal.
Juric had lost all six of his Premier League home games as Saints boss, and their supporters were thanking the crossbar for denying Jean-Philippe Mateta’s 25-yard strike after 90 minutes.
Southampton’s fans begged their team to attack – there were a few boos when one promising move ended with Ryan Manning passing all the way back to Aaron Ramsdale – but Mateus Fernandes did as told as he became a creative menace.
Adam Wharton earned a yellow when he slid into him early on, but there was no one near Fernandes when he sent in a perfect cross for Onuachu.
It was his header which gave Southampton their rare lead, though Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson could have done better, given he got a good hand to it.
The only shame for Saints supporters is it took them this long to realise that if you cross the ball into the tallest striker in the land in 6ft 7in Onuachu, you can score.
Palace had kept a clean sheet in each of their last five Premier League away games, but now they were losing. ‘We are staying up,’ sang the home support, tongue very much in cheek.
Mateta thought he had equalised with a smart swivelled shot after 36 minutes, but Ramsdale got down to make the sort of save which would be wasted in the Championship.
Jean-Philippe Mateta came close for the travelling Eagles, striking the crossbar from 25 yards
Southampton stayed rooted to the bottom of the Premier League on 10 points after the draw
Eddie Nketiah replaced Mateta before the hour mark and he tried to latch on to Jan Bednarek’s short back pass, but Ramsdale was quick in getting to it first.
Yet after all of his good work, Ramsdale was finally beaten late on by Franca.
