Late blunders cost Southampton dear

Southampton 2 Middlesbrough 2

Middlesbrough came from nowhere to deprive Harry Redknapp of victory in his first match in charge of Southampton with two goals in the dying minutes.

Headers by Kevin Phillips and Peter Crouch had Redknapp’s Saints sailing clear in search of only their second win in 16 league games.

But when it looked all over, an own goal following a corner by Danny Higginbotham followed swiftly by Stewart Downing’s long-range strike stunned the home crowd yet again.

Redknapp was soon down to business just four days into the job, making three changes with fit-again goalkeeper Antti Niemi returning after knee surgery and forwards Crouch – making his first Premiership start for Saints – and Fabrice Fernandes brought in.

Boro welcomed back George Boateng after suspension but were still without injured Chris Riggott and Ugo Ehiogu in defence.

Saints produced the early pressure and Fernandes and Rory Delap both swung and missed at a Mikael Nilsson cross as the ball bounced around the penalty box.

Then Kevin Phillips poked a good chance wide when set up by Anders Svensson and Boro were under early siege.

Niemi punched away Stewart Downing’s accurate cross to end Boro’s first serious attack in the seventh minute, but the visitors should have gone ahead two minutes later.

Michael Reiziger, operating at left-back to accommodate youngster Tony McMahon on the right, linked with fellow Dutch international Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink to power a firm shot which Niemi could only palm away.

It fell straight to Mark Viduka, although slightly behind him, and by the time he got his foot around the ball Niemi was up on his feet again to stop the rather tame follow-up shot.

Rory Delap screwed a close-range header wide of the mark from a Svensson cross when it looked easier to score so the midfielder was probably relieved by the subsequent sight of an offside flag.

Saints kept up the attack with Graeme Le Saux an inspiring figure but referee Neale Barry ignored his claims for a penalty in the 37th minute when he went down in the area after being brushed off by McMahon.

Home fans were still moaning when Viduka broke through at the other end and set up Hasselbaink whose shot was straight at Niemi.

Southampton had another chance from a Danny Higginbotham cross which Phillips touched back into the path of Svensson but the Swede hurried his shot and miskicked badly.

Phillips headed in the goal he deserved right on the 45-minute mark with a near-post touch on Le Saux’s cross and, despite getting a hand to it, Mark Schwarzer could not keep it out.

Fernandes, who had been doubtful for today’s game because of a virus, could not come out for the second half and was replaced by Paul Telfer.

Crouch and McAndrew crashed down in a heap when going for a Phillips cross five minutes after the break but referee Barry’s whistle was only to bring treatment to both players.

Boro were slow to show any signs of a response to Phillips’ opening goal and Lundekvam risked a back-pass header to Niemi.

But when Szilard Nemeth replaced McMahon for the visitors just before the hour there was an immediate impact. The substitute produced a penetrating ball through to find the unmarked Downing and the winger, being watched by England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson, looked a certain scorer with a first-time shot.

But Niemi, back in the team after missing six games through knee surgery, somehow threw up a hand to save at the expense of a corner.

It was a major turning point. Saints almost immediately forced a corner on their left and Le Saux’s inswinger was met by Crouch who, head and shoulders above all challengers, headed in his second goal of the season in his first league start.

Three minutes later the same combination almost worked again, this time Crouch putting his header just over the bar from a Le Saux cross.

By then, though, Saints fans were having a party – with Redknapp now on the touchline – and singing the old Pompey anthem ‘Harry and Jim’ just to rub it in.

Saints almost had a third when Svensson embarked on a glorious run through the centre and curled his shot just over in the 71st minute.

Hasselbaink broke away in the inside right channel onto a Viduka pass and fired beyond Niemi only to see the ball come back from the inside of a post. Lundekvam headed away Viduka’s follow-up effort.

But there was a late scare when a corner by Downing glanced off Higginbotham’s head for an own goal to spread panic in the home ranks in the last minute of normal time.

And amazingly Downing blazed home an unstoppable 30-yard shot in stoppage time to pull the game out of the fire for Boro.

It could have been even worse for Saints with Niemi making a fine save to deny Viduka right at the death.