Saints forced to settle for a point

Saints looked on course to make it three Championship victories in a row following Stuart Armstrong’s goal within two minutes, but, despite having almost complete control of the game, they were unable to extend their advantage and were punished by a Jordan Hugill strike on 74 minutes.

It was a frustrating way for Russell Martin’s side to head into the latest international break, and they will certainly feel they should have picked up all three points here.

Having named an unchanged side in the midweek win at Stoke, Martin made only one alteration to his team for this encounter, bringing in Ché Adams for Charly Alcaraz, who was among the substitutes after an intense week.

And it was Adams who made his presence felt immediately, as Saints scored within two minutes for the second home match in a row.

Kyle Walker-Peters burst past a couple of defenders on the right side of the area and stood up a cross, which Adams rose brilliantly above his defender to meet, thumping a header against the post, with the rebound falling perfectly into the path of Stuart Armstrong to tap home.

Stuart Armstrong celebrates putting Saints into an early lead (Photo: Matt Watson)

It was a second goal of the week for Armstrong, following his stunning free-kick winner at Stoke on Tuesday night, and marked a perfect start to the afternoon for Martin’s side.

Saints were all over their opponents immediately afterwards too, Kamaldeen being denied by Millers keeper Viktor Johansson, who also had to save well from a low Adam Armstrong shot inside the opening ten minutes.

Armstrong did then beat him on 16 minutes, with a wonderful back-heel flick that snuck inside the far post from a low Walker-Peters delivery, but he was ruled offside by the assistant referee, as the score remained 1-0.

It was one-way traffic, though, and Rotherham made a substitution only 30 minutes in to try to wrestle some control back, as Sebastian Revan replaced Fred Onyedinma.

But there was little, if any, immediate change for the visitors, who were indebted to Johansson for not falling further behind only two minutes later, as he dove low to his left, making a stunning save to keep out a downward Adams header after Ryan Manning’s free-kick from the left had picked the striker out.

Ché Adams goes close to doubling the lead with a header (Photo: Matt Watson)

Saints continued to push for the second goal their dominance warranted, and they came close again in the 43rd minute, as Adam Armstrong’s shot inside the area deflected wide, not long after an acrobatic effort from Adams had been blocked.

They had to settle for their advantage being only one at half time, however.

There was a delay of ten minutes to the second half starting, due to a medical emergency in the stands towards the end of the first 45 minutes, and when play did restart there were no further changes for either side.

It was a fairly quiet opening to proceedings, with Saints continuing to dominate the ball but Rotherham limiting their opportunities.

Perhaps with that in mind, Martin decided to switch things up around the hour mark, sending on Alcaraz, Sam Edozie and Ryan Fraser, with Stuart Armstrong, Adam Armstrong and Kamaldeen making way for the trio.

Sam Edozie was one of three changes for Saints just after the hour mark (Photo: Matt Watson)

Within minutes of his arrival on the pitch, Fraser almost laid on what would have been the second goal, as a slick move ended with his low, square delivery finding Will Smallbone about ten yards out, only for Johansson to somehow turn his first-time shot over.

Everything was comfortable except the scoreline for Saints, who entered the final 20 minutes having allowed only one shot off target in the game, but there was still a slight sense of tension building around the ground without any cushion to their advantage.

And that concern was with good cause, as Rotherham equalised out of nowhere on 74 minutes.

It came from a long clearance, with the second ball dropping to substitute Hugill outside the area, and he hit an opportunistic, side-footed volley that looped over Gavin Bazunu and found the back of the net.

Both keepers then had to make decent saves, as Johansson kept out an Alcaraz strike, before Bazunu stopped a deflected effort from Oliver Rathbone.

Saints' final changes saw Sékou Mara and Joe Aribo sent on for Adams and Smallbone for the closing minutes, as they pushed to salvage victory.

Alcaraz drew a save from Johansson at his near post, before they had one scrambled away from inside the six-yard box in the 90th minute.

An additional five minutes were added at the end, but Saints were unable to create anything of note and were left to reflect on an opportunity missed.

Southampton: Bazunu, Walker-Peters, Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Manning, Downes, Smallbone (Aribo 86), S Armstrong (Alcaraz 63), Kamaldeen (Edozie 63), A Armstrong (c) (Fraser 63), Adams (Mara 86).

Unused substitutes: McCarthy, Bree, Holgate, Charles.

Goals: S Armstrong (2)

Booked: Kamaldeen, Bednarek.

Rotherham: Johansson, Lembikisa, Hall (Appiah 73), Peltier, Bramall, Cafu (Clucas 73), Rathbone (c), Tiéhi, Nombe (Hugill 61), Green (Kelly 73), Onyedinma (Revan 30).

Unused substitutes: Phillips, McGuckin, Eaves, Lembikisa, Kelly, Appiah.

Goals: Hugill (74)

Booked: Peltier, Tiéhi, Clucas.

Referee: John Busby

Attendance: 28,404