Dyer steals draw for Swansea (From Oxford Mail)

Dyer steals draw for Swansea

5:25pm Saturday 10th November 2012 in National Sport © Press Association 2013

Southampton's under-fire manager Nigel Adkins was denied a much-need victory by Swansea as another former academy graduate returned to haunt their former club in a 1-1 draw.

Two weeks ago Gareth Bale helped Tottenham to a 2-1 victory at St Mary's, and on Saturday Nathan Dyer came off the bench to deny the south coast club all three points. The hosts dominated the first half, and continued well after the break to take a deserved lead through Morgan Schneiderlin.

But Saints' defence proved their undoing as Maya Yoshida failed to control a pass from goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga, with Dyer nipping in to collect the ball and fire home to secure a point for the Welsh side.

The Saints started brightly and captain Adam Lallana forced Gerhard Tremmel into action with a quick turn and strike, before Gaston Ramirez curled a left-footed effort just wide of the German's right-hand post from 25 yards.

Only the fine reactions of goalkeeper Gazzaniga stopped Ki Sung-yeung breaking the deadlock for Swansea 20 minutes in, but Garry Monk did well at the other end to stop Jason Puncheon getting a shot away on the counter.

Lallana claimed a penalty against Angel Rangel and then scooped a curled right-foot effort as half-time approached.

The home side's intense pressure soon told, though, as Lallana swung a ball in from the left and Rickie Lambert's cushion header was controlled by Schneiderlin. The French midfielder took the ball on the run and continued to head past Tremmel to give Adkins' side a deserved 64th-minute lead.

Clyne saw a low cross cleared as Southampton pushed for a second, before defensive frailties again cost Adkins' side. Gazzaniga played the ball out to Yoshida but the Japan international miscontrolled and Dyer latched on to the loose ball and fired home off the post.

Lambert nodded agonisingly wide shortly afterwards and Cork flashed a strike over, before Tremmel caught a tame header by the former.

Referee Andre Marriner waved away Lallana's strong penalty appeals in the 85th minute after going down under pressure from Monk, before Ki saw a shot blocked at the other end and Yoshida cleared a cross with a last-ditch challenge.