Southampton boss Nigel Adkins refuses to be too critical of Paulo Gazzaniga

The Saints looked to be on course to record a third straight Premier League win when Rickie Lambert prodded a loose ball home after 31 minutes.

However, the hosts were pegged back at St Mary's when Robert Snodgrass' free-kick crept under the body of goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga and into the net.

Adkins felt it was not a foul in the first place, insisting that full-back Nathaniel Clyne had actually got the ball, rather than the man, just as the half moved into injury time.

"I thought we were right on the front foot (in the first half)," he said.

"I thought we were right on the front foot and moved the ball about brightly. We scored a good goal through Rickie Lambert and could have scored one or two more.

"Unfortunately the game has changed for us bang on half-time with the goal we have conceded.

"I don't think it's a free-kick, Nathan made contact with the ball first and the direction of where the ball has gone indicates that.

"But the referee has made the decision and then we've got to save it. We haven't saved it. That gave them a big lift in the second half and I thought they were the better team.

"All in all, it's another point and I think that's eight in the last four games.

"It was a game of two halves. The first was very exciting for our supporters but in the second we couldn't break Norwich down."

Adkins, however, refused to be too critical of Gazzaniga, the 20-year-old summer signing from Gillingham who failed to keep out Snodgrass' effort.

"You will always highlight the goalkeeper when any ball goes in the net, but he will learn from that," the former Scunthorpe boss added.