Ralph Hasenhuttl laments unwanted Southampton fan pressure

Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl has criticised the pressure imposed upon his side by the club's supporters during the 1-1 Premier League draw with Crystal Palace.

The home side were outplayed for long periods and looked set to slip deeper in the relegation mire after going behind to Wilfried Zaha's first-half strike.

But after Jan Bednarek cleared Mamadou Sakho's effort off the line, Saints rallied after Matt Targett's cross was turned home by James Ward-Prowse for his third goal in as many games.

Zaha was dismissed late on for sarcastically clapping referee Andre Marriner but the St Mary's crowd had little to shout about throughout the 90 minutes, and Hasenhuttl wants the atmosphere to change.

• Match report

"What I missed today was the patience that we need in this moment," said the Austrian. "Because I think the best situation was 20 seconds before the goal.

"The crowd was giving pressure to us and that is not the way we need the support at that moment. They have to help us by not putting pressure on us.

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"They have to know we want to play forward but it is not possible all the time. So we have to wait for when the right moments come."

After back-to-back league wins over Leicester and Everton, Southampton were denied three successive victories for the first time in nearly three years.

Jack Stephens avoided a red card of his own after a high challenge on Andros Townsend, with Hasenhuttl admitting the centre-back was "fortunate" to avoid any punishment.

It took a Ward-Prowse strike out of the blue to grab a point for the home side, who are now four points away from the drop zone.

"It was an important point for us. In the first half it was very difficult," the 51-year-old added. "That is what I was told before the game. Against this team you don't get many chances.

"After 10 days without a game you could feel that we were not in the rhythm of what we normally are but against this team it is difficult, that was clear for me."

Charlie Austin was left out of the squad completely just days after Hasenhuttl admitted he could leave the club in the January transfer window.

Southampton have not made a single signing this month and that looks unlikely to change according to the boss, with Austin also set to remain.

"I don't want to speak about one or two players if they are leaving or not," he explained.

"Tomorrow is the last day of the transfer window. We will have a look if something happens but if not then I am happy with what I have."

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