Festa off as Boro hang on for point

Defeat for Fulham at west London rivals Chelsea meant they both could have leaprogged the Cottagers into tenth spot.

Instead Boro, who had to hang on for a draw after Gianluca Festa was sent off on the hour, remain close to the relegation zone as they enter a tricky period in their fixture programme.

After this Sunday's FA Cup quarter-final clash with Everton, Riverside chief Steve McClaren leads his team into two daunting League encounters with title hopefuls Liverpool, at home, and Manchester United, at Old Trafford.

And, following Wednesday night's 1-1 draw at the St Mary's Stadium, Boro know that they still have a lot to do to keep them on course for safety.

McClaren had indicated before the clash how he believes 42 points should see his side secure Premiership status, after this point they are now seven short of that total.

This was the first time Boro had ventured out to the plush surroundings of St Mary's - and next time they travel to the south coast they will be hoping for a return to the less welcoming Dell.

The Dell, which has often proved a wicked place to visit for top sides across the country, has not been too bad for Boro in recent years.

And a 3-1 victory there last season, courtesy of a two-goal super-show from Alen Boksic is testament to that in September 2000.

But leading marksman Boksic, who had scored three in three games against the Saints, could not pull something special out of the bag.

Strachan indicated in his programme notes how he thought it was going to be a game of few goals - he was proved right.

Southampton had taken a deserved first half lead through Anders Svensson but a sweet Noel Whelan volley in the second period cancelled out the Swede's strike.

And when Festa saw red the writing looked to be on the wall for the visitors, but a determined defensive display and a superb Mark Schwarzer save let Boro off the hook.

McClaren handed Luke Wilkshire his full debut due to the massive loss of influential skipper Paul Ince with a groin injury.

The Boro boss opted to play the young Australian right-midfielder despite naming latest signing Michael Debeve, from RC Lens, among the substitutes.

Consistent Robbie Stockdale was unable to shrug of a thigh niggle completely and only made the bench - Festa filled the void left at right-back.

Former Blackpool striker Brett Ormerod, who scored his first Premiership goal in Southampton's 3-1 win over Ipswich on Saturday, continued up front alongside Kevin Davies, despite the return to fitness of top-scorer Marian Pahars.

But James Beattie, the man who masterminded the Saints' 3-1 win at the Riverside earlier in the season, was still sidelined with a knee injury.

Both sides went into the game knowing three points could see them climb into the top-half of the table.

Equally, after Blackburn's 3-0 success over Aston Villa on Tuesday, they also knew just five points separated themselves and the bottom three.

As expected, the home side enjoyed most of the the early possession and had two good opportunities to score.

First Ormerod, a former textiles factory worker, cut his way through the Boro defence after a mis-timed Ugo Ehiogu header - but his shot was screwed wide. Seconds later Rory Delap headed over a Davies cross from six yards.

But, after Wilkshire had failed to get his outstretched leg to a Jonathan Greening centre, Schwarzer was forced into his first save.

England left-back Wayne Bridge picked up the ball from fully 25 yards and unleashed a low drive which the Boro stopper did well to get down to turn away.

Worryingly for McClaren Boro were doing little to test Paul Jones in the Southampton goal. Both Festa, with a downward header, and Boksic, with a volley on the turn, should have hit the target from eight yards out - both failed.

And the visitors were left to rue those when Strachan's men went down the other end and scored six minutes before half-time.

Ormerod, a 25-year-old snapped up for £1.75m from Second Division Blackpool, made the most of a mistake by centre-back Ehiogu and got to the bye-line - the striker crossed superbly for Svensson, whose first time side-footed shot was well placed beyond Schwarzer.

Just eight minutes after the restart Boksic should have drawn the scores level.

After some good work on the left by Whelan, the Croatian was played in with only Jones to beat but again Boro failed to find the target as he shot wide.

Four minutes later Boro did find the target - and with it they found the net.

Loanee Benito Carbone's skilful turn and cross was met on the volley by Whelan who placed his sixth of the season in the bottom corner.

But the joy at equalising soon turned sour when Festa was sent off for the second time this campaign three minutes later.

The Sardinian, Boro's last man, brought down Chris Marsden, scorer of Southampton's wonder-goal at Portman Road on Saturday, and referee Uriah Rennie had no choice but to issue the red card.

Chances came and went for the Saints but determined Boro held firm at the back and Schwarzer's acrobatic save from Latvian Pahars shot, with seconds on the clock, ensured Boro returned to the North-East with, what could prove to be, a priceless point.

Read more about Boro here.