Premiership: Jones' blunder proves costly

Southampton 1 Fulham 1

Another blunder by Paul Jones cost Southampton victory against Fulham at St Mary's Stadium.

The south coast club's Wales international goalkeeper, whose horrendous gaffe in the last Premiership fixture gifted goal to Leicester's Brian Deane, gifted Fulham an early lead.

With little apparent danger, Jones somehow spilled a through ball for Steve Marlet to sidefoot into an empty net.

Rory Delap equalised for Gordon Strachan's side but without those mistakes, Southampton would be over the 40-point mark.

Southampton began proceedings in the ascendancy with visiting goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar forced to punch Anders Svensson's deep free-kick clear.

But Fulham were gifted an early lead through Jones' mistake. A neat link-up on the halfway line between Steve Finnan and Sylvain Legwinski saw the latter lift the ball over the hosts' backline for Marlet to chase.

There was no apparent danger, however, when Jones slid out to collect five yards ahead of the France international forward. But the Welshman inexplicably fumbled and as the ball ricocheted into Marlet's shins he was left to steer into an empty net.

Jones ensured Fulham did not double their advantage in the 10th minute, though, blocking Barry Hayles' left-foot shot after the striker had cut in from the right.

Having taken advantage of a gift, Fulham offered one of their own in the 20th minute when Andy Melville, recalled in central defence, under-hit a back pass. Marian Pahars seized on the opportunity but his shot brushed van der Sar's spreadeagled body and went the wrong side of the post.

Within two minutes, though, Southampton were level through Delap. The Irishman received a return ball from Jason Dodd in his stride, controlling with his right and lashing in with his left foot from just inside the area.

Southampton were lucky not to go behind again five minutes after restoring parity when Paul Williams was caught in possession by Hayles 25 yards out, only for the latter to run too wide in rounding Jones and allowing the chance to pass.

Then, when a Southampton move broke down just inside their own half, Steed Malbranque advanced to drag off-target from the edge of the area.

At the other end, a Pahars volley was held high above his head by van der Sar before Matt Oakley's 20-yard drive flashed wide.

Fulham's usual fluency was not allowed to prosper in a niggly second period. But Sean Davis did go close when his one-two with Malbranque gave him a sight of goal just after the hour, his effort just too high.

It was Southampton, however, who could have gained the lead with 11 minutes to go as substitutes Jo Tessem and Davies combined.

Tessem's well-weighted pass allowed Davies to advance into the area and his sidefooted attempt beat van der Sar but struck the foot of the post and Brett Ormerod sliced the rebound into the crowd.

At the other end, another of the match's late entrants Louis Saha grazed the outside of Jones' right-hand upright after being teed up by Rufus Brevett's clever header.