Hapoel Be’er Sheva 0 Southampton 0 James Ward-Prowse goes close but Saints have to settle for bore draw

SOUTHAMPTON left Isreal still unbeaten in the Europa League but with a bore draw under their belts.

James Ward-Prowse produced their best chance with a decent 52nd minute shot and Virgil van Dijk had a decent chance but otherwise there was little to write home about.

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Hapoel's best chance came when skipper Maor Melikson raced on to a perfectly-weighted pass in the Saints box, arrowing a low shot past the far post.

Then Southampton keeper Fraser Forster flung low himself to his left, pushing home substitute Hoban's low shot from the edge of the box.

About 300 hardy away fans travelled the 3,146 miles to Israel - and in the first half how they must have questioned that decision.

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Early on it was a big yawn in every sense of the world and only when Saints boss Claude Manager - who left several stars, including Charlie Austin at home - introduced Dusan Tadic for Euro debutant Jake Hesketh before the break did anything remotely interesting look like happening.

In the first half Fraser Forster saved easily from Maharan Radi after Virgil van Dijk made a hash of a clearance, while James Ward-Prowse blasted well over for Saints and Nathan Redmond missed out on the stroke of half-time.

FACTS, STATS, GOALS AND LOLS

• The hosts welcomed Saints fans from England with a loud, Hebrew version of Bonnie Tyler’s 1970s power ballad ‘It’s A Heartache’. It was more earache but still the thought was there
• Celtic were beaten 2-0 here in August but squeezed into the Champions League group stages at Hapoel’s expense, 5-4 on aggregate

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• The distance from Southampton to Be’er Sheva is 2,312 miles. Easily the longest European trip in Saints’ history
• The Turner Stadium rose in applause before kick off to honour Israel’s former president Shimon Peres who died on Wednesday aged 93
• Saints boss Claude Puel made seven changes to the line up which started against West Ham on Sunday and set up a 3-0 away win
• Stand-in skipper Virgil Van Dijk wasted a fantastic chance to put Saints ahead after only four minutes when he headed over from six yards out
• Puel showed his ruthless streak by hooking rookie Jake Hesketh after just 35 minutes. The 20-year-old was making only his second appearance. Confidence crusher
• Nathan Redmond livened up a game which was easy on the eye but devoid of incident until he infuriated Hapoel players for nicking the ball as they decided whether to put it out with Saints defender Matt Targett lying on the deck
• Be’er Sheva boss Barak Bakhar is hardly a team player himself. After opening a bottle of orange for his thirsty full back Ben Bitton in the second half, the coach took a massive swig himself before handing it over.
• Hapoel fans created an electric atmosphere inside their cosy ground - complete with a version of the famous ‘Will Grigg’s On Fire’ chant from Euro 2016. Shame Southampton’s Northern Ireland skipper Steven Davis wasn’t here to hear it

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SOCIAL SAYS

DREAM TEAM RATINGS

Southampton: Forster 6, Martina 7, Yoshida 7, van Dijk 7, Targett 7, Romeu 7 , Clasie 6, Ward-Prowse 7, Hesketh 5 (Tadic 6), Long 6 , Redmond 6 (Højbjerg 6).

WHAT THEY SAID:

Manager Claude Puel: "If you cannot win it is important to take one point.

"We left players behind but that wasn't as factor. "

"I took Hesketh off because it was just a tactical problem for the team. He is a young player and it was good experience but their was pressure from the fans and the opponents and it was very difficult.

"It was important for me to protect him."

Southampton's Virgil van Dijk: "We  started off badly and they were pressing high and were full of confidence.

"After half an hour we were better and dominant and let the ball do the work.

"It was the same after the break - we started and then played well. A point over here is a good result.

"I should have scored. It was a great ball in and I should have done better.

"But we kept a clean sheet after a  long journey and the only thing missing is a goal."

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