Palace late goal denies Southampton rare win

Matheus Franca scored his first goal for Palace

Southampton were denied just a third win of the season as Crystal Palace scored at the death to snatch a draw at St Mary's.

Paul Onuachu looked to have earned the home side a first Premier League win in two months, but substitute Matheus Franca headed a stoppage-time equaliser to add to Southampton's woes.

Saints head coach Ivan Juric and goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale both spoke this week of the importance of beating Derby County's points tally of 11 from the 2007-08 season, which remains the lowest since the Premier League's inception.

They remain one point shy of that total after this 30th game of their dismal campaign.

Southampton were fortunate that Palace forward Jean-Philippe Mateta's second-minute effort hit the bar and not the back of the net, but the hosts were the better side in the first half and played like a team eager to avoid making unwanted history.

Kamaldeen Sulemana and Kyle Walker-Peters made Palace aware of Southampton's intentions with positive early runs, while Mateus Fernandes knitted play together in the final third.

Onuachu was brought into the starting XI after scoring from the bench in a defeat by Wolves before the international break, and he repaid Juric in the 20th minute by giving the home side the lead.

The Nigerian striker met Fernandes' deep cross with a powerful header that Dean Henderson could only palm into the bottom corner, when the England goalkeeper might have done better.

Ramsdale preserved the lead 15 minutes later with a superb low stop following a swivel and shot from Mateta, before Onuachu dragged wide at the other end after running on to a wayward pass from Marc Guehi.

The 30-year-old Southampton frontman could have had a hat-trick before the break. From another chance, he could not quite reach Walker-Peters' teasing cross at the far post.

Palace improved in the second half and should have equalised through Eberechi Eze, but the England winger hit the side-netting following Ismaila Sarr's driving run.

Jan Bednarek almost undid Southampton's good work with a short pass back to Ramsdale, but the goalkeeper managed to reach it before Palace substitute Eddie Nketiah.

Palace have enjoyed a strong campaign since failing to win in their opening eight games, and their persistence paid off when Franca beat Ramsdale in the second added minute with a near-post header.

The draw at least ended Southampton's nine-game losing streak at home in the league, while Juric avoided becoming only the third boss to lose their opening seven home games in the Premier League.

Southampton remain bottom of the table, now with 10 points, and are 19 points adrift of safety with eight games left.

Palace sit 12th, three points above Manchester United.

Story of the season for Saints

Southampton did not start this game like a team who had won only twice in the league, taking six shots to Palace's three in the first half and looking the more threatening of the two sides.

Onuachu provided a presence up front that was lacking in the striker-less system deployed against Wolves two weeks ago. He tussled well with Guehi and Maxence Lacroix and more often than not got the better of them.

The striker has now scored as many goals in his latest two Premier League appearances - two - as he managed in his previous 18 games.

However, as has been the story of Saints' season, quality told in the end. Onuachu was gifted a clear chance to double his side's lead when Lacroix misread Guehi's pass across the penalty area, but he lacked composure and scuffed his first-time effort with Henderson scrambling.

Southampton's centre-back trio of Jack Stephens, Bednarek and Taylor Harwood-Bellis contained Mateta well, but ultimately they were undone by substitute Franca.

The Brazilian's header means Southampton have dropped 25 points after taking the lead in games, the highest total in the division this term.

Another failure to win means Southampton's relegation to the Championship will be confirmed if they lose to Tottenham on Sunday and Wolves beat Ipswich on Saturday.

Palace clean sheet run ends

Palace endured a miserable start to the season, drawing three and losing five of their opening eight games to leave them wedged in the relegation zone.

Since October, however, Glasner has turned things around. That has been illustrated by his side's run to the FA Cup semi-finals and surge up the league ladder.

Palace have now taken 37 points from their past 21 league games, a points-per-game return of 1.76. Such a record over a 38-game season would mean them collecting 67 points, which last year would have been good enough to finish fifth and secure a place in the Europa League.

Remarkably this was the first time since 18 December that Palace had conceded away from home in any competition, a run of seven clean sheets.

Palace were far from their best, but this disappointing night will soon be forgotten.