Southampton 1-1 Rotherham United: Jordan Hugill equaliser hands Millers first away point of the season

Stuart ArmstrongImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Stuart Armstrong has scored in back-to-back games after his early opener against Rotherham

Jordan Hugill struck late to give Rotherham their first away point of the season as they held dominant Southampton at St Mary's.

Saints hit the front after just two minutes when Che Adams headed a Kyle Walker-Peters cross against the post and Stuart Armstrong tucked in the rebound.

The second half was delayed for 10 minutes following a medical emergency in the stands just before half-time which saw a fan taken away on a stretcher.

Rotherham goalkeeper Viktor Johansson had pulled off a string of top saves before Hugill equalised completely against the run of play, volleying in following a weak headed clearance from Taylor Harwood-Bellis.

A third straight win would have taken 10th-placed Saints into the play-off places, and they will be wondering how they did not complete the job as they dominated second-bottom Rotherham after Armstrong's early opener.

The hosts rained down 22 attempts on Johansson's goal, 10 on target, compared to just two to the visitors, and yet the frustration could have been even worse as Arvin Appiah had the ball in the net deep into stoppage time only to be denied a Millers winner by the offside flag.

No other Championship team has conceded more goals this season than Rotherham's 22, and with centre-half Tyler Blackett joining a lengthening injury list in midweek, the Millers were under the pump from the whistle.

The hosts would have been out of sight by half-time without Johansson, who made good saves to deny Kamaldeen Sulemana and Adam Armstrong soon after the early opener, and then dived to his left to keep out Adams' header from Ryan Manning's cross.

Rotherham had scored just twice in their five previous matches and rarely threatened to add to that tally as the backs-to-the-wall pattern continued into the second half.

But Saints made heavy weather of finishing off the game, in no small part down to some resolute defending, timely Lee Peltier blocks and another stunning Johansson stop, this time to deny Will Smallbone from close range.

They were made to pay in classic style as Hugill lobbed the equaliser, but there was still time for the Swedish stopper to make two further saves from Carlos Alcaraz.

Southampton boss Russell Martin told BBC Radio Solent:

"We should have had it nailed - it's not even a contest for long periods and I can really come out and say that confidently.

"So much of it was so good, but we have to score more goals, to be more ruthless.

"It could have been a really brilliant week and we should have been three or four-nil winners and somehow we've managed to draw it and that's on us.

"Their goalkeeper's made a couple of really brilliant saves, but even then we've given him a chance to make those saves."

Rotherham manager Matt Taylor:

"We somehow managed to stay in the game in that first half, it was difficult and we rode our luck at times, and had to give ourselves a chance in the second half - and we did that.

"It still needs a moment of quality from the players or a moment of skill, whether that be our goalkeeper, last-ditch defending or the goal.

"We were so low after Wednesday night so full credit to the team for getting through today - and I include myself in that.

"There was a point in the first half where you could hear the end wavering. Not just in terms of my position, but in the belief of what we are trying to do."

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