Southampton missed the chance to close the gap on the Sky Bet Championship play-offs as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Charlton at St Mary's.

Ross Stewart had given Saints a second-half lead but Sonny Carey cancelled it out with the equaliser in the 67th minute.

Charlton boss Nathan Jones lasted only eight games and 95 days as Southampton manager in the 2022-23 season before being replaced by Ruben Selles.

The Welshman was taunted throughout by the home support, who certainly have not forgotten his ill-fated spell in charge.

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In the reverse fixture at The Valley in November, Southampton blew Charlton away 5-1, with all of their goals coming in the first half.

Jones was clearly mindful of that and this was a much more cagey affair, despite the Saints enjoying long spells of dominance.

Southampton went close in the third minute when Leo Scienza's volley from Tom Fellows' cross was brilliantly cleared off the line by Lloyd Jones.

The home side were appealing for a penalty in the 13th minute when Charlton debutant Collins Sichenje tripped Scienza but referee John Busby instead awarded a free-kick just outside the area.

Tonda Eckert's side were averaging more than 75 per cent of the possession and constantly probing at Charlton's stubborn defence.

They found an opening as Flynn Downes played in Shea Charles but Thomas Kaminski saved his effort from a tight angle.

Then, from a well-worked corner routine, Ryan Manning struck the crossbar as the pressure continued to build.

James Bree scored the extra-time winner against Leicester in the FA Cup last weekend and he headed narrowly over after Stewart had flicked Scienza's corner to the far post.

Charlton were struggling to get out of their own half but they had a rare opportunity when Carey pulled a shot just beyond the post from the edge of the area.

Jones will have been delighted with his team's resilience in the first half but, three minutes after the break, they fell behind.

Saints' tormenter-in-chief Scienza teased his way down the left and crossed for Stewart to brilliantly head into the far corner.

Finally, the game began to open up and Saints were quickly looking to add more with wave after wave of attack.

Jones responded by bringing Miles Leaburn off the bench and, as the rain drove down, his team found an unlikely equaliser.

The ball was worked across the area to Carey and Charlton's top goalscorer picked out the far corner with Daniel Peretz getting a hand to it but failing to keep it out.

A clash between Downes and Conor Coady then sparked a mass brawl as tensions threated to boil over in the final stages.

But Jones' side held on for 10 agonising minutes of stoppage time to leave with a point.

The managers

Southampton's Tonda Eckert:

"Obviously in those games, especially at home, we play to win, I think that's very clear.

"Especially if you go up in the second half, I think that we have done this in a couple of games now where we've managed to bring those games over the line or then score a second goal.

"Didn't manage it today, so for the moment there's a little bit of disappointment on the result, but they'll be gone by tomorrow morning and then we go again on Tuesday."

Charlton's Nathan Jones:

"I've got no affiliation here, really. I was a brief time here. I think I spent more time in Starbucks than I have at this football club, so it's not the same. But it's another really testing football club to come back to, because they're a very good side.

"They've got wonderful players. I think probably the outstanding player in the Championship they have, Leo Scienza, I think there's very few better than him on his day. But I'm proud of my team. I'm proud of my club.

"It's a good point to take away here. These are a really good side at this level. After what they did to us at home when we were too open and gave up too many clear-cut chances, we knew we couldn't do that and we didn't.

"I thought we were really good defensively, very disciplined.

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