Saints hold leaders to draw

Southampton picked up a well earned point from their 1-1 draw with League One leaders Charlton.

Saints manager Alan Pardew returned to his former club and must be rueing what could have been as Adam Lallana's opener had the rock-bottom visitors on course for a first league win of the season before Deon Burton equalised after 49 minutes.

Kelly Youga was denied by the woodwork as the home side pressed for a winner, but in the end it was honours even at The Valley.

Joseph Mills tested Charlton's Rob Elliot from long range inside the opening three minutes and Morgan Schneiderlin did likewise with an 18-yard volley after 13 minutes.

Lallana and Youga both tried their luck from distance at either end before Elliot was forced to palm a 35-yard effort from Lloyd James around the post 10 minutes before half-time.

It seemed a matter of if, not when, the deadlock would be broken - and the opener duly arrived three minutes before the interval courtesy of Lallana's third goal of the season.

Wayne Thomas crossed from the right wing and Lallana got ahead of his marker to rifle low past Elliot from 12 yards.

Burton fired Southampton a warning of the threat he still poses after the restart as he drilled wide from 30 yards before hauling Charlton level.

Jonjo Shelvey's cross from the left wing eluded everyone and Burton headed home his second goal in as many games for the Addicks and his fourth in total this term.

A scrappy period of play followed the flurry of goals before Youga hit the post with an 18-yard drive with 16 minutes remaining.