Charlie Austin continued his fine goalscoring form as he salvaged a 1-1 draw for Southampton at south-coast rivals Bournemouth.
The Saints frontman swept home his third goal in two starts on 61 minutes, cancelling out Ryan Fraser’s 42nd-minute opener for the Cherries, who felt aggrieved not to win a penalty after Sofiane Boufal’s challenge on Adam Smith.
Austin spurned a glorious chance to win the game 10 minutes from time, as too did Bournemouth defender Nathan Ake, but there was to be no winner as both sides had to settle for a point.
Bournemouth: Begovic (7), Smith (7), Francis (6), Ake (7), Daniels (6), L. Cook (6), Surman (6), Stanislas (5), Fraser (7), King (6), Defoe (5).
Subs: Afobe (5), Wilson (5), Ibe (5).
Southampton: Forster (8), Pied (6), Hoedt (6), Van Dijk (7), Bertrand (9), Davis (6), Romeu (6), Ward-Prowse (5), Tadic (6), Boufal (6), Austin (8).
Subs: Lemina (5), Gabbiadini (5), Redmond (6).
Man of the Match: Ryan Bertrand.
Virgil van Dijk nearly capped Southampton’s bright start with the opener on 12 minutes, but his header curled agonisingly wide.
Bournemouth awoke from their slumber on 20 minutes as Lewis Cook’s fierce drive deflected off Jermain Defoe and drew a stunning point-blank save from Fraser Forster, who was on hand to thwart Ake’s header a minute later.
Bournemouth had strong appeals for a penalty turned away on the half-hour mark when Boufal lunged in on Smith, but referee Jon Moss booked Smith for simulation and Defoe for his protests.
In an almost retaliatory move, Charlie Daniels took matters into his own hands, unleashing a fierce drive which came within inches of taking the lead on 39 minutes.
The breakthrough finally came three minutes later as Josh King caught Wesley Hoedt in possession, shipped the ball out to Fraser, and he stroked the ball beyond Forster.
After Boufal spurned a glorious chance to haul Saints level before the break, the visitors took control in the second period and finally equalised as Austin fired substitute Nathan Redmond’s low cross home at the near post.