Honours even as Saints hold West Ham

LONDON, February 14, 2012 (AFP) - Southampton came from behind to force a 1-1 draw against 10-man West Ham in Tuesday's top-of-the-table Championship clash.

A Jos Hooiveld strike 15 minutes from time secured a share of the points for the Saints after a stormy encounter between the two promotion-chasing sides.

West Ham took the lead on 21 minutes after Billy Sharp was adjudged to have brought down Mark Noble in the box triggering an ugly melee.

Hammers midfielder Matt Taylor remonstrated with Sharp and was promptly sent off after the Saints striker fell to the turf following the confrontation.

The chaotic scenes did not distract Noble however, with the long-serving Hammers talisman -- playing his 200th game for the club -- coolly converting the penalty to make it 1-0.

Despite being a man down West Ham dominated play thereafter and were unlucky not to add to their lead.

However Southampton fought back after half-time and former Celtic striker Hooiveld was on hand to grab the equaliser on 75 minutes.

With West Ham and Southampton sharing the points, the biggest winners on Tuesday were third placed Cardiff, who moved to within three points of an automatic promotion place with a 3-1 win over Peterborough.

Three goals in six first-half minutes set up the win for Cardiff, with Peter Whittingham, Rudy Gestede and Haris Vuckic all getting on the scoresheet for the Bluebirds before Paul Taylor bagged a late consolation for Posh.

Blackpool stayed hot on the heels of the leading pack with a 3-1 win at relegation-threatened Doncaster.

Two first-half goals from Gary Taylor-Fletcher set the Seasiders on their way before Senegalese veteran El Hadji Diouf pulled one back for Doncaster close to half-time.

French striker Nouha Dicko added a third for Ian Holloway's side however to make sure of the points.

Birmingham missed the chance to close the gap on West Ham and Southampton however after they were held to a 0-0 stalemate against Hull in a disappointing game at St Andrews.

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