Blackburn Rovers 0-0 Southampton: Daily Echo player ratings

Adam Armstrong should have put Saints ahead in the first 10 minutes but chances were few and far between beyond that. 

It was a first clean sheet since West Brom before the international break but that will mean little to the 2,500 travelling supporters.

Here is how we rated the performances of each Saints player... 

Adam Armstrong endured a difficult day (Image: PA)

Starters 

Gavin Bazunu - 7. 

Did not have much to do and did not do any of it wrong. Made a couple of simple saves and survived a few nervy moments with the ball at his feet to keep possession. 

Kyle Walker-Peters - 6. 

Popped up all over the place playing an inverted full-back role in the early stages of the fixture. As a result, some counterattacks down his channel. Had a shot cleared off the line in the closing stages. Made way 

Taylor Harwood-Bellis - 6.

Was let off the hook as he charged out and didn't get the ball for one Blackburn counter. Headed over a good chance before the break. Decent outing but facing a side that looked extremely limited in attack.

Jan Bednarek - 7. 

Started very well and was key to the defence's solidity. Did play one hospital pass that led to a Sammie Szmodics effort. Southampton's best player aside from that, albeit against limited opposition. 

Jack Stephens - 6.

Played a good dinked ball to Aribo's header off the crossbar. Appeared to pick up a shoulder injury but played on. Did not look as tidy in possession as some others but did not prove an issue over the 90 minutes. 

Flynn Downes - 6.

Displayed the composure we expect of him and was solid in his position. Did not see a lot of him during the match but stats show he was good in duels and decent in the game. 

Joe Aribo - 6. 

Started the game brightly and was very energetic. Good header to hit the crossbar in the first half. Kept going until the end and was good going forward and back but did not create too much else. 

Joe Rothwell - 5.

Probably the quietest of the midfield three. Tidy in possession and no obvious mistakes. A good corner delivery into the back post was his only moment of note before he was substituted in the 62nd minute. 

David Brooks - 6.

Started well but he tailed off as the game went on. Set up Armstrong with an excellent low cross that should have been converted and looked lively. Then stopped getting the ball. Mistakenly let a ball through his legs for a Blackburn chance and was booked for a foul shortly after.

Ryan Fraser - 5. 

Regularly made runs beyond the right-back but lacked the quality of penetration into the box. Managed one shot off-target. Gave the ball away a few times - not a good afternoon for the Scot and substituted after 75 minutes. 

Adam Armstrong - 4.

Missed a huge chance central to the goal early on and was not too involved in much else from there. The theory is that he is not as impactful when played through the middle and it proved so. Managed 28 touches before coming off after 75 minutes. 

Substitutes 

Kamaldeen Sulemana was our pick of the substitutes (Image: PA)

Che Adams - 5. 

Worked hard and was feeding off scraps but failed to make the impact hoped when he came on after an hour to add a true number nine. Fired just wide of the post from a narrow angle with his only shot.

Will Smallbone - 4. 

Wasted one corner with a ball that did not beat the first man and gave away possession with a shockingly poor pass deep into added time. Did not have a positive impact on the team.

Sam Edozie - 5.

Lively and made plenty of runs down beyond his right-back but never looked like he would provide the killer touch that was missing. 

Kamaldeen Sulemana - 6. 

Made an immediate impact with some good skill to beat his man and pass selection to find Walker-Peters for a big chance. Beaten to a one-on-one chance by the goalkeeper. Best of the changes. 

Sekou Mara - N/A.

Came on with just minutes to play and did not have a significant role.