MANAGER Russell Martin praised Gavin Bazunu's performance against Watford despite being "disappointed" by the quality of their equaliser.

Substitute Rhys Healey fired in a volley from distance that squirmed under the Irish international in the sixth minute of injury time.

Defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis lost the initial aerial battlen with Vakoun Bayo, which presented Martin's former teammate Healey a chance. 

Bazunu had made a good save to deny Yaser Asprilla earlier in the second half and played a part in Southampton's opening goal, scored by Che Adams. 

Speaking to the Daily Echo, Martin said: “They will be frustrated, but they are two young men who have been amazing.

"Gav will be really frustrated with himself. He will feel the same way I do about it. Dean (Thornton, goalkeeping coach) was sitting in the dugout furious.

“But the first goal comes from Gavin taking the ball in his own six-yard box and playing it out to Taylor under big pressure.

“It’s swings and roundabouts. I’ve got nothing but praise for them and the courage they play with.

"They are both amazing young men who will continue to grow. I won’t be too critical of it.”

Southampton looked on course to record a third straight win after Adams had put them ahead 10 minutes into the second half.

Daily Echo: Rhys Healey celebrates scoring Watford's late equaliser to leave the Saints stunned

Impactful substitute Ryan Fraser stung the palms of Ben Hamer as an elusive second goal evaded Saints, before the hosts drew level.

“I felt like we managed the game well," Martin continued. "We scored, but the number of chances we had needed to come to more.

“We need to get the second goal and it’s game over. The most frustrating thing is the goal we concede.

“Sometimes you feel like you’re hanging on but I didn’t feel like that, I actually felt like we were going to score a second goal.

“They were throwing so many men forward because they had nothing to lose and were leaving themselves open.

“I thought we might get a second goal but we concede. Honestly, my real frustration is that it’s a rubbish goal.

“They smash it forward, we should head it but instead we get under it. Bayo is athletic and Rhys hits one of the worst hit volleys I’ve seen from him – and I’ve worked with him.”