Southampton have been frustrated by an energetic West Ham United side as the teams go into the break locked at 0-0.
Mohamed Diame had the game's first attempt, as he twisted and turned inside the penalty area, only to be denied by a firm Artur Boruc save.
Jay Rodriguez, reinstated to the Saints starting lineup, beat Guy Demel on the left flank and cut the ball back for Pablo Osvaldo, whose goalbound effort was saved magnificently by a sprawling Jussi Jaaskelainen.
West Ham thought that they had taken the lead when Kevin Nolan turned the ball home after Matt Jarvis had been thwarted by Boruc, only for the goal to be ruled out. The referee's assistant adjudged Jarvis to be offside, although replays suggested otherwise.
Hammers manager Sam Allardyce became further incensed when Morgan Schneiderlin escaped punishment for a late challenge on Diame.
Ravel Morrison, who was West Ham's only change from the side that lost 1-0 to Stoke City, saw his curling effort dip just over the crossbar with half time approaching.