Draw ‘feels like a win’ for Southampton, says Hasenhuttl

Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl says the 1-1 draw with Chelsea ‘feels like a win’.

His team ended their six-match losing run in the Premier League by holding Chelsea at St Mary’s.

Loanee Takumi Minamino brilliantly took his chance to open the scoring in the 33rd minute.

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He ran onto a defence-splitting pass from Nathan Redmond before sitting down keeper Edouard Mendy.

Minamino then calmly finished past Mendy with the outside of his boot.

Mason Mount equalised from the penalty spot in the second half but Southampton held out for a point.

Speaking after the match, Hasenhuttl told BT Sport (via BBC Sport): “It was an important point for us.

“We played to the maximum. Tactically, against such a strong side, it’s important you’re committed.

“I didn’t see that many chances from them. With a little bit of luck we would’ve won the game.

“A draw today feels like a win. And it’s a step towards us returning to our normal form.

“With the ball we weren’t that great. It was tough but our goal was us at our best.

“Against such a strong side it was important [that] everybody performed.

“No complaints about their penalty. We know the dangers of tackling in the box.

“We are believing in what we are doing. The Premier League is tough. For us, it is good that we take a point from such a strong side.”

The result gave Southampton their first point since picking up a surprise win over Liverpool on January 4.

They’re now on 30 points after 24 matches and sit 13th in the table.

Chelsea, meanwhile, fell further behind Man City and Man Utd by dropping points at St Mary’s.

They’re in fourth place on 43 points but could get leapfrogged by David Moyes’ West Ham, who play Spurs tomorrow.