ORIOL Romeu admits free-scoring Manolo Gabbiadini was a big miss at St Mary's as Saints drew 0-0 with neighbours AFC Bournemouth.

The Italian has scored six goals in his first five appearances for the club, since a £14.6m January move from Napoli, but missed out against the Cherries because of a groin problem, with Jay Rodriguez starting in his stead upfront.

"The shape we had when he [Gabbiadini] was playing was very good and he was scoring and that is very good for the team," Romeu said.

"Of course we will miss him but I think that Shane [Long] and Jay [Rodriguez] did a good job. Every time they come out they try to do their best."

Without the in-form 25-year-old, Saints were unable to find the net – despite creating plenty of chances.

“His form was just amazing and he was very dangerous and you could see defenders from other teams were very aware of him at that point," Romeu added.

Dusan Tadic clipped the outside of the post and Maya Yoshida's header zipped narrowly, while Jay Rodriguez's powerful volley was saved by Cherries goalkeeper Artur Boruc in a creative first-half from Saints.

The Spanish defensive midfielder was left to rue those missed opportunities.

“You have ups and downs but this was not a bad game from us,” he said.

“The team played well and we had so many chances.

“The only thing was that we did not put the ball in the net and being honest, we should have been one or two up in the first half and that would have given us more room and space to play in the second half.”

However, with Harry Arter missing a penalty on 78 minutes, Adam Smith’s strike hitting the post and Benik Afobe steering a close range effort wide in a dominant second-half from the visitors, Romeu ultimately felt Saints were lucky to come away with a point.

“They had some good chances and we were just defending in the last few minutes of the game," he said.

“In the last 10 minutes, we were just trying to get a counter-attack to get a goal, but in our heads a point was good.”

The 25-year-old didn’t expect Saints to come under so much pressure after the break.

“Well, no, they are a good team and were pushing and it is not easy but after the first half, we thought we could control the game in the second half and have more chances, but we didn’t,” he said.

“We lost some second balls, we lost parts of the pitch and they did well, so a point was good.”