Southampton draw first leg of the Under-21 Premier League Cup final 0-0 away to Blackburn

Martin Hunter’s side will now head back to St Mary’s for a decisive showdown next Monday, following a closely-fought encounter at Ewood Park this evening.

It could have been an even better result for Saints, who enjoyed the best of the game’s few opportunities, with Ryan Seager heading over from close range in the second half, in what was the clearest opening of the night.

Saints, who beat Ipswich, Norwich, Watford and Derby to reach the final, were certainly not holding back, naming six players in their starting line-up with a combined 26 first-team appearances this season.

Blackburn, by contrast, had just one player who had featured for their senior side this term – keeper David Raya, who had turned out only once.

The hosts started well, forcing Saints to scramble away a Connor Mahoney cross before Jason McCarthy was booked for bringing down Rovers forward Devarn Green.

Jake Hesketh on the ball. (Photo: Matt Watson/Southampton FC)

But Hunter’s men soon began to take control, with Raya having to dive at the feet of Dom Gape on the edge of his area, while Sam Gallagher sliced a shot wide.

Sam McQueen nearly broke the deadlock just after the half-hour mark with a first-time strike from a Jake Hesketh pass, but his shot flashed just wide of the far post.

The second half was a tight affair in the early stages, with Reed cautioned for a foul and Raya saving a McQueen shot.

Chances were few and far between until the final 20 minutes, when Saints began to increase the pressure.

Gape fired off-target from a Bevis Mugabi cutback, before Sam Jones went into the book for a foul on Seager.

Some of the Saints fans who made the long trip to Ewood Park (Photo: Matt Watson/Southampton FC)

The Saints forward then had the best opportunity of the match, as McQueen’s in-swinging corner was missed by Raya, but he could only head over from close range at the back post.

Hunter made a double change on 81 minutes, with Jake Sinclair and Josh Sims replacing Gallagher and McQueen.

Matt Targett had a penalty shout waved away when he went over in the area, before Raya got down well to deny Sinclair a minute from time after he fired in an effort from Seager’s lay-off.

Hesketh had a shot deflected wide in added time, before Will Wood headed a Targett corner over, as the match ended level.

Tough game, all to play for next week! The boys fought well! #SaintsFCU21s

— Ryan Seager (@Ryan_Seager) April 13, 2015

BLACKBURN: Raya, Nyambe, Doyle, Thomson, Lavelle, Jones, Green (Mansell 38), Bauress, Rittenberg (Joel 90+3), Carson, Mahoney.
Subs: Daly, Crump, Tanner.

SAINTS: Gazzaniga, Mugabi, McCarthy, Wood, Targett, Gape, Reed, Hesketh, Gallagher (Sinclair 81), Seager, McQueen (Sims 81).
Subs: Britt, Slattery, Debayo.

Att: 995.