Southampton held to 0-0 bore draw away at West Brom

If you didn't make the trip to the Midlands or didn't catch the game on TV, you didn't miss much. <!-- ######## START FLOATED VIDEO SNIPPET ######## -->

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It was more of the same from Southampton as they dominate possession - 65% to West Brom's 35% - but fail to create anything that remotely resembles a chance for much of the match.

However, it was nice yet strange to see Rickie Lambert down the white and blue stripes of West Brom. Meanwhile, wantaway Victor Wanyama and Saido Berahino both makes appearances for Saints and the Baggies respectively.

West Brom had a strong penalty appeal turned down on 16 minutes when Matt Targett flew into a careless tackle on Callum McManaman. However, fortunately for Saints, the referee did not award the penalty.

Southampton should have taken the lead on 37 minutes after Jay Rodriguez met Dusan Tadic's in-swinging cross only to head narrowly wide of the goal. It was a golden chance which he really should have scored.

In the second half, there was a heart-in-mouth moment as Southampton 'keeper Maarten Stekelenburg went to collect a seemingly harmless ball dropping from the air, only to spill it towards his own net. Thankfully, he managed to clamber the ball to safety. Too close a call for Saints fans' liking.

It was the second 45 minutes of play which saw Southampton really take control of the game. But, Saints' day was typified by the sequence of play which unfolded on 64 minutes.

Southampton made a swift counter from their own box and in the the opposition half, the ball is played to Pelle who did well to make a forward run and still remain onside. Pelle then played a left-footed ball from out wide across the West Brom penalty area which landed at the feet of Tadic. Instead of shooting, Tadic stops to turn and plays it to James Ward-Prowse, who promptly blazes the ball over the bar.

Another instance of needless dallying on the ball was performed by Sadio Mane, who came on as a late substitute for Rodriguez. Instead of hitting the ball first time, Mane takes an extra touch and that's yet another chance wasted for Southampton.

It was a fairly frustrating game for the Saints. However, compared to last year's iteration of this very fixture: a 1-0 loss to a Berahino goal in the first minute, I'm sure Southampton would be happy with a point in hindsight.