Southampton vs Middlesbrough. Sky Bet Championship.
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Report and free match highlights from the Sky Bet Championship match between Southampton and Middlesbrough at St Mary's on Good Friday | Emmanuel Latte Lath scores 90th-minute equaliser to deny Saints victory
Friday 29 March 2024 18:15, UK
Emmanuel Latte Lath's 90th-minute equaliser saved a 1-1 draw for Middlesbrough to puncture Southampton's Sky Bet Championship automatic promotion ambitions.
Adam Armstrong had seemingly fired Saints towards a 23rd victory of the season with his 30th goal contribution in the Championship this season - more than any other player.
But Ivorian Latte Lath nodded in his 10th goal of the campaign late on to extend Boro's unbeaten run to five matches.
Saints ended their 20-day break since their last game with a goal inside 12 minutes.
Kamaldeen Sulemana lifted a ball from the left side into the box and it should have been dealt with by makeshift centre-back Jonny Howson - who was forced to fill in at the back with Boro contending with 11 injuries, six of them to defenders.
Howson sliced his attempted clearance to Armstrong, who settled himself before using his composure to slot into the bottom corner for his 19th goal of the season.
Armstrong almost pilfered his 20th two minutes later but his fierce effort was deflected just over.
Boro grew into the half and struck the post in the 28th minute with their first shot of the afternoon. Kyle Walker-Peters had given the ball away in midfield before Finn Azaz rattled the base of the upright.
Isaiah Jones could not find a stretching Latte Lath while Sulemana blazed over to end a first half that promised more.
The second period started like a runaway train as Gavin Bazunu stood strong to deny Latte Lath at one end before Che Adams pounced on Seny Dieng's parry to put the ball into the net at the other before the flag went up for offside.
Adams then had two gilt-edged chances in two minutes to double Southampton's lead.
The Scotland international was dinked through by Taylor Harwood-Bellis but took so long to settle himself Dieng had time to position himself to save the eventual shot in the box, then Adams was able to control and turn seven yards out when unmarked but somehow missed the target.
Armstrong was brilliantly denied from close range by Nieng before his follow-up was blocked on the line by Lukas Engel.
Ryan Fraser had a shot parried before Will Smallbone shinned the rebound over as Saints were made to pay for their wastefulness in the dying embers.
Alex Gilbert's cross from the right was met by Latte Lath, who craned his neck to divert into the bottom corner.
Southampton's Russell Martin:
"Che will be frustrated he hasn't scored. But it isn't the reason we lose. We still need to defend properly and win the game 1-0.
"I'm really disappointed and frustrated. We should have scored three or four goals. If you aren't going to score enough to win it you need to defend with your lives.
"The goal is rubbish, it is nowhere near as good a chance as any of ours but he has taken it well.
"We created a lot of chances and on another day we win with a lot of goals but we couldn't get that next goal and it really hurt us.
"What better way to take out our frustration than on Monday in a really big game (away at promotion rivals Ipswich)."
Middlesbrough's Michael Carrick:
"We didn't get to the hotel until about 10pm last night after our flight was abandoned coming into land.
"We were getting blown all over the place as we were trying to coming into land and then we ended up having to take off again. We almost got diverted to Birmingham.
"It was tasty. Some of the boys were slightly tetchy, it wasn't pleasant.
"Some of the boys are talking about getting onto the coach on the way back!"
