Juric left frustrated as Southampton throw away 'deserved' victory

Southampton head coach Ivan Juric believed his side's performance merited a win against Crystal Palace as a late Matheus Franca header denied the Premier League's bottom club.

The home side looked set for their first victory since the beginning of February, and just their third league win overall this term, through Paul Onuachu's header in the first half.

They had managed to limit Palace to few chances throughout, following a great opportunity for Jean-Philippe Mateta early on, but their stubborn resistance was broken in injury time as Franca stooped low to head in from a Jefferson Lerma cross.

It denied Juric a first league win at St Mary's since he took over in December.

Southampton have now dropped 25 points from winning positions in the Premier League this season, more than any other club. They have failed to win eight games after scoring the opening goal in the top-flight this term (D2 L6).

"It's frustrating because I think the guys deserved a victory," Juric told BBC Sport.

"I think we did a very good performance, we controlled the game, didn't risk anything, they score on one set-piece.

"When you work with the guys for three months you know them, today we really did a good game.

"It's a really cruel ending."Ivan Jurić reacts to Wednesday night's point:
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A win would have seen Southampton overtake the lowest ever points tally in Premier League history, recorded by Derby County in 2007-08, but Juric believes more points are on the way if his team can maintain a similar level of performance during the last stretch of the season.

He added: "I'm disappointed because we deserved to win the game.

"The guys must train and prepare for every game like we did today. Then the points will arrive."

Palace boss Oliver Glasner conceded his side were not at their best, though praised their character in preserving their 10-game unbeaten run on the road.

He told Sky Sports: "It was a very difficult game, we were not on our top level, especially with focus and mentality.

"It looked like we were mentally tired. But it was nothing to do with our attitude. We fought until the last second to get the equaliser.

"The points is from the character of the team, we know we can play better but sometimes it’s not to perform at the best level but to fight and keep going until the last minute. It’s a very important point."