Middlesbrough preserved their position at the top of the Championship and extended their unbeaten start to seven matches as substitute Kaly Sene's late, deflected finish earned a 1-1 draw at Southampton, cancelling out Adam Armstrong's fine volley.
Rob Edwards' side, who have now won five and drawn two of their opening fixtures in what is the club's best league start for 149 years, had to come from behind after Armstrong struck just after the hour. For Will Still and Southampton, a largely encouraging display against the leaders could not disguise another missed opportunity, as a sixth league game without a win leaves them only two points above the relegation places and with just one victory in their last 21 Championship outings.
Saints' Sweeping Changes Bring Early Control But No Lead
Still responded to a damaging league run by making six changes from the side that lost at Hull City a week earlier, including a different goalkeeper and three new faces in the back four, while also retaining many of the players who had pushed Liverpool hard in a narrow League Cup defeat at Anfield. The reshaped Southampton side started on the front foot, with captain Armstrong lively down the left and forcing Sol Brynn into early work when he turned sharply and shot.