SAINTS were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw at Championship draw specialists Blackburn Rovers on Saturday afternoon.

Kyle Walker-Peters was denied a second half winner by some heroic last-ditch defending on the line from Callum Brittain.

Southampton's best chance came inside the opening 10 minutes when Adam Armstrong pulled a close-range effort past the post.

The result meant Saints failed to make the most of their promotion rivals dropping points once again, leaving them 12 points adrift of second place.

Joe Rothwell, Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Armstrong all made their Ewood Park return, while Saints academy graduate Sam Gallagher led the line for the hosts.

Rothwell was one of three chances, alongside David Brooks and Walker-Peters, as Armstrong played through the middle.

Blackburn named an unchanged XI from the team that thrashed Sunderland 5-1 on Monday to end their 10-game winless run.

Saints dominated possession from the start and created a strong chance to score down the right on eight minutes.

Brooks pulled back for Armstrong but the usually potent forward could only drag his effort past the far post from eight yards out.

The home fans were spooked when Championship top goalscorer Sammie Szmodics went down and required early treatment.

A smart dinked cross from Jack Stephens found Joe Aribo, whose free header clipped the crossbar and almost rebounded into the net off of Aynsley Pears, the Rovers keeper.

Blackburn did eventually make an early change; Ryan Hedges being replaced by Dillan Markanday on 26 minutes.

Soon after, Szmodics pinched a loose pass from Jan Bednarek and tried to lob his fellow Irish international Gavin Bazunu, his effort landed on the roof of the net.

Saints were dealt an injury scare of their own when Stephens went down holding his shoulder early in the second half. After an extended period of treatment, the skipper was able to continue. 

With Martin's words of encouragement still fresh in his ears, substitute Adams curled an effort wide from a tight angle.

The Scottish international was introduced alongside Will Smallbone just after the hour mark as Southampton looked to wrestle themselves ahead. 

The away side struggled to dominate after the break as loose passes in defence and midfield squandered possession in key areas.

John Eustace's side maintained their threat and could have scored the elusive opener when Gallagher rose highest at the back post, however, he could only head off target.

With 15 minutes to go, Martin turned to the pace of Sam Edozie and Kamaldeen Sulemana after a period under the cosh from Blackburn.

Heroic last-ditch defending from Brittain prevented Walker-Peters from finding the bottom corner when he created space for a low effort inside the box. 

Martin threw caution to the wind with four minutes to go, withdrawing Walker-Peters for another forward in Sekou Mara, but Saints could not break the deadlock.

Blackburn: Pears; Brittain, Hyam, Wharton, Pickering; Tronstad, Rankin-Costello, Hedges (Markanday, 26'), Szmodics, Dolan; Gallagher.

Unused subs: Wahlstedt, Carter, Buckley, Moran, Garrett, Telalovic, Chrisene, McFadzean.

Booked: Dolan.

Saints: Bazunu; Walker-Peters (Mara, 87'), Bednarek, Harwood-Bellis, Stephens; Downes, Aribo, Rothwell (Smallbone, 65); Brooks (Adams, 65'), Fraser (Edozie, 75'), Armstrong (Kamaldeen, 75').

Unused subs: Lumley, Manning, Mara, Charles, Lawrence.

Booked: Brooks.

Referee: Craig Pawson.

Attendance: 15,679