Plymouth extended their unbeaten run to four games as they were held to a goalless draw by Southampton in an entertaining clash at St Mary's.

The Saints dominated the opening 45 minutes but were guilty of squandering several good opportunities with David McGoldrick and Jordan Robertson both off target.

Plymouth rarely threatened and their best chance fell to Jamie Mackie who shot into the side netting with the angle against him.

The visitors looked a completely different side in the second half with substitute Craig Noone going close while McGoldrick had a shot cleared off the line at the other end.

Southampton went into the match full of confidence after becoming the first side this season to beat Reading at the Madjeski Stadium and boss Jan Poortvliet kept faith with the same XI.

Plymouth boss Paul Sturrock made three changes from the win over Cardiff with Yoann Folly, Steven MacLean and Mackie coming in for Karl Duguid, Paul Gallagher and Emile Mpenza.

The home side started well and had a shout for a penalty with five minutes gone when Bradley Wright-Phillips went down in the box amongst a crowd of bodies, but referee Andy D'Urso waved away the appeals.

Five minutes later McGoldrick was inches away from giving Saints the lead with an excellent snapshot from the edge of the area that was deflected just past the post.

Plymouth slowly began to find their rhythm and Mackie did go close with a shot from a tight angle that flew into the side netting.

However, it was Southampton who were making the better chances and Plymouth goalkeeper Romain Larrieu did well to tip Adam Lallana's shot round the post and, from the resulting corner, Jordan Robertson headed over.

In first-half stoppage-time Wright-Phillips crossed for McGoldrick who headed wide from close range.

Plymouth looked lacklustre again at the start of the second half and 10 minutes after the break Sturrock had seen enough, bringing Gallagher and Noone on for Mackie and Fallon.

The changes had an almost immediate effect and Gallagher sent a shot wide from 20 yards before Mathias Doumbe crossed for Noone, who could not direct the header on target.

Just as Plymouth began to dominate, Southampton had the best chance of the match when McGoldrick latched onto Lallana's pass and rounded Larrieu, but his shot was superbly cleared off the line by Chris Barker.

Both sides were going all out for the opener and at the other end Luke Summerfield's corner found Marcel Seip who headed wide from close range.

Late on Noone found space inside the area once again but shot wide as neither side managed to find an elusive winner.