Southampton climbed out of the bottom three, albeit on goal difference, after Kevin Phillips scored in a 1-1 Premier League draw away to Bolton on Tuesday that frustrated the hosts’ Champions League ambitions.
Sam Allardyce’s side looked on course to go above Everton and into fourth place, the last Champions League spot on offer to English clubs, after Stelios Giannakopoulos headed in El-Hadji Diouf’s cross in the 25th minute.
Saints — who could return to the bottom three on Wednesday if West Brom get at least a point away to Tottenham — then saw Nigel Quashie twice clear off the line ahead of the former Portsmouth player’s return to Fratton Park for this weekend’s south coast derby.
Diouf later missed a clear chance and a superb double save was needed from Bolton goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen to keep Sam Allardyce’s men ahead.
But with 21 minutes to go, striker Phillips levelled when, after Bruno N’Gotty missed Rory Delap’s through ball, the former Sunderland star struck from 10 yards out.
In Tuesday’s other match, FA Cup final referee Rob Styles was at the centre of controversy following his last-minute award of a penalty that allowed Middlesbrough to secure a draw at home to Fulham.
Styles pointed to the spot for a challenge by Fulham goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar on Boro striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, even though the incident took place outside the box.
Bolo Zenden scored and furious Fulham manager Chris Coleman had to be restrained from confronting Styles — who was on Monday appointed to referee the high-tension FA Cup final between Arsenal and Manchester United in May — after the final whistle.
Fulham had seemed set for victory after United States striker Brian McBride scored with just eight minutes remaining.
Nevertheless, the draw left Fulham on 35 points, seven clear of the relegation zone ahead of Saturday’s west London derby against runaway leaders Chelsea.
Boro’s point left them eighth and on the fringe of a Uefa Cup place. — Sapa-AFP