Southampton's Ivan Juric Frustrated As Late Equaliser Denies Deserved Victory Against Crystal Palace

Add as a preferred source on Google

Southampton's head coach, Ivan Juric, expressed disappointment after his team was denied a win against Crystal Palace by a late Matheus Franca header. The match seemed to be heading for Southampton's first victory since February, thanks to Paul Onuachu's first-half goal. However, Franca's injury-time equaliser from a Jefferson Lerma cross dashed their hopes.

Southampton has struggled this season, dropping 25 points from winning positions in the Premier League, more than any other team. They have failed to secure victory in eight matches after scoring first (D2 L6). Juric told BBC Sport, "It's frustrating because I think the guys deserved a victory. I think we did a very good performance, we controlled the game, didn't risk anything, they score on one set-piece."

Juric remains optimistic about the future if his team continues performing at this level. He stated that maintaining their current form could lead to more points as the season progresses. "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," he added.

A win would have allowed Southampton to surpass Derby County's record for the lowest points tally in Premier League history from 2007-08. Despite this setback, Juric believes his team can still achieve better results with consistent performances.

Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner acknowledged his team's subpar performance but praised their determination to maintain an unbeaten run away from home. 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."

Glasner highlighted the importance of character in securing the draw: "But it was nothing to do with our attitude. We fought until the last second to get the equaliser." He emphasised that sometimes it's not about playing at your best but fighting until the end.

The draw preserved Palace's impressive 10-game unbeaten streak on the road. Glasner noted that while they can play better, securing crucial points through resilience is vital for their campaign.

This result leaves Southampton still searching for their first league win under Juric at St Mary's since his appointment in December. As they continue their fight against relegation, both teams will look to build on this match in their upcoming fixtures.