THE GENERAL consensus of opinion among Crystal Palace supporters maintained this was another two points dropped in the campaign to earn a place in at least the Championship playoffs. Neil Warnock begged to differ but he based his thinking on past differences of opinion with referee Mark Halsey rather than Southampton's late equaliser.
"I'm a delighted to get a point with Mark refereeing because I don't get many," said Warnock facetiously, choosing to ignore that Mr Halsey seemed to do Palace a distinct favour in allowing James Scowcroft's goal. The striker certainly seemed to lead with his arm as he challenged Darren Powell in a tussle for Mark Hudson's long ball into the penalty area.
The ball was only half-cleared and Powell was still off balance when transfer-window signing Neil Danns distinguished his first performance with a clever pass and Scowcroft turned past his marker for his sixth goal of the season.
John Gorman, Southampton's acting manager since the departure of George Burley, maintained a draw was ultimately the fairest result in a game largely undistinguished with long periods of scrappy play. However, he maintained: "I thought theirs was a dodgy goal and Powell is adamant he was fouled."
Palace, who humbled Southampton 4-1 in the opening game of the season, were intent on recapturing their winning ways after a 15-game unbeaten streak ended last Monday against Leicester. Clearly the orders from Warnock were insistent on a physical approach and nobody suffered more than teenage winger Adam Hammill, on loan from Liverpool, who seemed determined to add a style to proceedings only to be repeatedly clattered. As Warnock observed: "They had a bit more of the quality play in midfield and were pretty in places." Admittedly, Scowcroft's goal managed to transfuse the game into life after 74 minutes of distinct torpor and Ben Watson hit woodwork twice in as many minutes.
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This was positive Palace play but it was kept to a minimum as Southampton always seemed to have more ideas and fluency despite the demoralising experience of having two of the most seasoned performers in Grzegorz Rasiak and Rudi Skacel depart on loan late on Thursday. Initially it was the stark facts of the balance sheet that forced Southampton into allowing their departure. However, a belief that top scorer Stern John would also recapture his striking expertise played its part and such wisdom was proved correct as justice was effectively seen to be done with six minutes remaining.
John scored his first goal since September as he clipped the ball in from just a couple of yards out after the always alert Andrew Surman had gathered the ball from Shaun Derry's ineffectual attempt at a clearance, surged down the left flank and clipped in the most precise cross. Warnock put the goal down to a lack of elementary defending while Gorman maintained it was nothing more than his team deserved.
Now Palace will attempt to resurrect their promotion aspirations in Friday's local derby against Charlton while Southampton go forward in search of a manager placed equidistant to both the relegation zone and playoff positions.
Star man: Andrew Surman (Southampton)
Player ratings: Crystal Palace: Speroni 7, Halls 6, Lawrence 6, Hudson 7, Hill 6, Derry 6, Watson 7, Soares 5 (Danns 63min), Scannell 6 (Moses 88min), Scowcroft 7, Morrison 5 (Freedman 63min)
Southampton: Davis 6, Thomas 7, Powell 6, Davies 7, Wright 6, Hammill 7 (McGoldrick 79min), Euell 7, Safri 6 (Idiakez 74min), Surman 8, Wright-Phillips 6 (Saganowski 71min), John 7
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Scorers: Crystal Palace: Scowcroft 74 Southampton: John 84
Referee: M Halsey
Attendance:17,967