- Gabbiadini puts hosts ahead
- Watford denied PK shout
- Saints have Austin goal ruled out
- Holebas ties it
Jose Holebas’ deflected 82nd minute strike salvaged a point for Watford against Southampton on Saturday.
Manolo Gabbiadini had given Saints a first half lead, and both teams were denied goals before Holebas’ marker.
The point gained gives Watford 20, and 7th place. Southampton is 17th with 8 points.
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Saints took a lead from a surprising source, well, as surprising as a striker goal can be for a viewer.
Gabbiadini took advantage of a Roberto Pereyra miscue and hammered a shot home for 1-0.
Striker Danny Ings left the match with an injury in the 40th minute, replaced by Charlie Austin.
Watford’s second half began well, and the Hornets believed they’d won a penalty when Nathaniel Chalobah was taken down by Nathan Redmond. No call came, however, and it was a fortunate let-off for Saints.
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391 - Southampton’s Manolo Gabbiadini scored his first Premier League goal at St. Mary’s stadium since October 2017 vs Newcastle, 391 days ago. Opener. #SOUWAT
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) November 10, 2018
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Maya Yoshida had a hard shot deflected out for a Saints corner, their fifth of the game, in the 63rd minute.
Austin looked to have made good on Southampton’s threats in the 66th, but it was pulled back while Saints were deep in celebration.
Watford found its equalizer when a ball fell to Holebas outside the 18, and his shot took a wicked turn to beat Alex McCarthy.
Gabbiadini curled a ball into the hands of Ben Foster moments later.