Southampton play out goalless draw with Be'er Sheva

Southampton's longest ever journey for a competitive match ended in a goalless draw with Israeli side Hapoel Be'er Sheva in their Group K encounter in the Europa League.

The Saints were up against a side who had not tasted defeat at the Turner Stadium, having played 22 games there since the beginning of the 2015-16 season, winning 17 and drawing five before tonight.

And Claude Puel’s team rarely looked like handing the Israeli side their first home loss, although Virgil van Dijk will be asking himself how he missed a free header from four yards out, barely five minutes into the game.

It’s now four points from two games for Southampton, and they’re in a strong position to qualify.

Having rested Charlie Austin, Jose Fonte, Steven Davis and Ryan Bertrand, the Saints will turn their attentions to Leicester on Sunday, while their next Europa League tie is away to Inter at the San Siro after the international break.

Puel not frightened to make an early change: The first-half tactical substitute is rarely seen, but Puel opted to haul off 20-year-old Jake Hesketh in favour of the more experienced Dusan Tadic.

It will be a harsh lesson for the youngster, who was making his European bow for the Saints, though the visitors did look stronger with Tadic on.

Perhaps Hesketh was the unlucky man to make way for Tadic, as it appeared Puel decided he may as well make use of the talented Serbian after all those air miles.

James Ward-Prowse (Southampton): Tough to pick out a truly good performance. Tadic gave the Saints more purpose when he came on but Ward-Prowse once again looked composed in the middle alongside Oriol Romeu.

Southampton: Forster 6; Martina 6, Van Dijk 6, Yoshida 6, Targett 7; Romeu 7, Clasie 6; Redmond 6, Ward-Prowse 7, Hesketh 6; Long 6. Subs: Tadic 7, Hojbjerg n/a.

Be’er Sheva: Goresh 6, Bitton 6, Zedek 6, Vitor 6, Taha 6, Korhut 7, Radi 6, Ogu 6, Nwakaeme 7, Melikson 7, Lucio 6. Subs: Sahar 6, Buzaglo 6, Hoban 6.

5’ - Ward-Prose and Targett over it... WHAT A CHANCE! It's whipped in by Ward-Prowse and Van Dijk is barely four yards out, totally free, and he heads over! He completely mistimed his effort and that was a glorious opportunity for the visitors.

35’ – Puel opts for a tactical sub as Tadic comes on to replace the 20-year-old Hesketh. The commentators suggest he might be injured, but no sign of the physio approaching him and he practically ran off the pitch...

45+1’ - Hapoel are FURIOUS as Targett is on the ground but the Saints choose to play on and eventually get a shot away. Why the hosts are annoyed when a Saints player is down we’ll soon find out… Replays show the Be'er Sheva players practically stopped playing, but didn't kick the ball out, and the Saints choose to steal the ball off them with Redmond getting a shot away (which went well wide). He and Ogu protest after the whistle. A wee flashpoint brought that game to life!

51 - GOOD SAVE! Ward-Prowse with the ball 25 yards out, he opts to shoot and it's a decent save from Goresh in the Be'er Sheva goal as he pushes it away from danger.

67’ - WIDE! First real opportunity for the hosts, Nwakaeme plays it across the box and it falls to Melikson, who strikes just wide. Always curling away but a decent chance for Be'er Sheva.

Be’er Sheva’s record at the Turner Stadium stretches to W17 D6 L0 since the start of the 2015-16 season.

Southampton have not won back-to-back European games in a single season (excl. qualifiers) since 1976/77.