Huddersfield earn point as Southampton lose Charlie Austin to injury and possible ban

Sign up to the Independent's betting newsletter for the latest tips and offers

Sign up to the Independent's betting newsletter

Please enter a valid email address

Please enter a valid email address

SIGN UP

I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice

Southampton extended their winless to six this afternoon against Huddersfield Town, and with Wembley on Boxing Day and Old Trafford next Saturday, they are facing the prospect of ending 2017 in the worst possible way.

This 1-1 draw at home to David Wagner’s side, in which they took the lead and had chances to go 2-0 up, is precisely the sort of game that any serious side should be winning. But they did not and there are now serious questions about Mauricio Pellegrino’s management of the club. They have only won four league games all season.

It is likely to get worse, not least because they will likely go to Tottenham and Manchester United without Charlie Austin, their only player currently capable of putting the ball in the net. He nodded in Saints’ only goal in the first half. But he limped off with a hamstring injury and before then was involved in an incident with Huddersfield goalkeeper Jonas Lossl. One of those incidents, if not both, is likely to keep him out next week.

Soon after scoring his goal, Austin chased onto a through pass from Jack Stephens. Lossl raced out and beat him to it, and Austin did little to avoid a collision. His right boot made contact with Lossl’s face, and the Danish goalkeeper writhed in pain and required lengthy treatment. Lee Probert appeared to see the incident and gave nothing.

The question for the Football Association will now be whether the referee saw it for what it was. And if so, whether this was an act of serious foul play worthy of a three-match ban. Such a ban would keep him out of Saints’ crucial games at Tottenham and Manchester United, as well as the home game with Crystal Palace on 2 January. The FA will review the footage tomorrow, on Christmas Eve.

But it is quite possible that their decision will not matter. With 12 minutes left here, Austin raced onto a through-ball and, in unleashing a powerful shot at Lossl, injured his hamstring. He went down and was helped off the pitch, to the jeers of the travelling Huddersfield fans. The scan could well keep Austin out for longer than any three-game suspension.

If Austin is out – whether injured or banned - then Saints will certainly miss him. He was their only real attacking threat in this fairly forgettable game. Mauricio Pellegrino has drilled this team rigorously, and they keep their shape well, but they struggle to create chances. They came into this game with just two points from their last five games – now three from six - and confidence was clearly low among fans and players.

Saints, in fact, were barely in the first 20 minutes of this game. They were passive and second to everything. When the took the lead it came out of nowhere. James Ward-Prowse whipped in a corner from the right, Wesley Hoedt got up to win the first header and Austin stooped at the far post to nod the ball in. That was his fifth goal in seven and for a team like this, that creates so little, a player who comes alive in the box is absolutely invaluable.

Southampton did improve with the lead, but not by much. Lossl saved bravely from Dusan Tadic from close range and then again from an Austin chip after he had come too far off his line and lost out to Tadic.

The second half continued along similar lines and, right on the hour mark, Austin had a chance to put the game away. Redmond burst down the left, through the Huddersfield defence. He selflessly squared to Austin, who controlled the ball but sliced his shot wide.

Four minutes later, Saints were made to pay. Huddersfield had faded in the game after their strong start, in which Christopher Schindler had a header tipped onto the bar by Fraser Forster. But David Wagner knew his team needed more energy, and made a double change to turn the game. Tommy Smith injected more pace at right wing-back and with his first action, he burst down the right and whipped in a cross which Laurent Depoitre was free to head in.

It was what Huddersfield deserved on the balance of play. This must be the most limited squad in the Premier League and yet they continue to cause problems for far richer opponents. They needed a touch of luck – Austin’s miss, and Maya Yoshida heading against the post in the last minute – but they are still able to make the most of it.

Southampton (4-3-3) Forster; Stephens, Yoshida, Hoedt, Targett; Ward-Prowse, Lemina, Davis (Hojbjerg, 73); Redmond, Austin (Gabbiadini, 78), Tadic (Boufal, 73)

Huddersfield (4-2-3-1) Lossl; Hadergjonaj (Smith, 61), Jorgensen, Schindler, Malone; Williams, Mooy; Quaner, Ince, Van la Parra (Lolley, 61); Depoitre (Mounie, 82)

MoM: Lossl

Match rating: 5