Ainsley Maitland-Niles said their slow start to the second half cost them maximum points, as Southampton had to settle for a point with West Ham at St Mary’s Stadium.
Romain Perraud’s first Premier League goal had given the home side the lead after 20 minutes, a low drive finding the bottom corner via a deflection.
Despite Saints going into the break the better side, visiting West Ham came out the stronger of the two during the second half; an equaliser coming through Declan Rice on 64 minutes.
Maitland-Niles, on his second start since joining the club on loan, said the result could’ve gone either way.
“Both teams had a lot of chances. We didn’t take ours after our goal, or before it, which was frustrating.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles
There's a lot of character in that dressing room.
“After we scored we stepped off the pace, let them have the ball, which is not what we wanted to do.
“We’ve got to go for more goals and be brave off the ball, on the ball. Press the teams, try and play good football when we have the ball and try and create more chances.
“There’s a lot of character in that dressing room, and we showed that today. Every one of us, even those on the bench, they were all together fighting for that last ball. But it shouldn’t get to that point.
“We have to stop it from getting to that point by going one up, two up and securing the game.”
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