Southampton rue missed chances in stalemate at Bournemouth

Southampton walked away from Bournemouth with a point following a 0-0 draw at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday.

Any point is deemed crucial for Saints, who stand 16th in the Premier League table, with manager Mark Hughes still searching for the right formula in all areas of the pitch.

Jack Stepehens paired Wesley Hoedt in the heart of the Southampton defence, which reverted to a back-four after the hammering to Chelsea before the international break.

The duo would combine to provide Southampton a first clean sheet in six matches, but the attack remained toothless and extended its run without a goal to four games.

Bournemouth, however, entered flying high and sent an early warning to the defence after just two minutes when Adam Smith tried to take aim on goal, but he lost the ball in his feet before getting a shot away.

A dormant first-half void of any clear cut chances was brought to life with Pierre Emile Hojbjerg connecting with Charlie Austin to spring the forward on goal -- though after rounding Asmir Begovic his touch failed him and the opportunity was gone.

Junior Stanislas and Callum Wilson combined to set up Josh King, but the forward’s effort drifted wide of the goal on 64 minutes, with the game tensing under pressure for a goal.

A pair of subtitutes should’ve given Southampton, whose chances were rare but of better quality, the lead nearing full-time.

Stuart Armstrong thwarted himself from close-range when he was unable to dig the ball from out of his feet, with the chance fleeting with five minutes left.

Manolo Gabbiadini then placed his header over the bar from Nathan Redmond’s cross deep into added time.

Bournemouth: Begovic, Smith, Ake, S. Cook, Francis, Fraser (Ibe 76), Lerma, L. Cook, Brooks (Stanislas 58), King (Gosling 85), Wilson.

Unused subs: Boruc (GK), Diego Rico, Surman, Defoe.

Goals: None.

Bookings: Wilson (86).

Southampton: McCarthy, Bertrand, Hoedt, Stephens, Cedric, Lemina (Armstrong 66), Hojbjerg, Redmond, Elyounoussi, Ings (Gabbiadini 79), Austin (Long 79).

Unused subs: Gunn, Yoshida, Vestergaard, Ward-Prowse.

Goals: None.

Bookings: Bertrand (34), Lemina (41).