NADJIM Abdou kept up his habit of scoring in front of the Sky cameras as the Frenchman’s header earned Millwall a deserved point at St. Mary’s on Saturday at Southampton.

Abdou’s equaliser came just minutes after right-back Alan Dunne had seen his penalty well saved by home goalkeeper Kelvin Davis, with the Saints having gone ahead just after half-time through Matt Paterson.

The Lions lined up with a front-line consisting of last season’s top scorer Gary Alexander and summer signing Steve Morison after manager Kenny Jackett had hinted his strike pairing at St. Mary’s would be his first-choice for the season ahead.

Much of the visitors’ attacking endeavour was focussed through their strike duo, with Morison’s strength causing the Saints back-line considerable difficulty.

However, the Lions’ early dominance could not be converted into concrete chances.

As the home side grew in confidence, midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin twice went close with audacious lobs from distance after Adam Bolder had been caught in possession.

Millwall’s only real chance of the half came seconds before the break when Morison found himself primed to shoot just yards from goal, but for the intervention of veteran defender Chris Perry to deny the striker.

With the Saints looking increasingly comfortable, it was they who took the lead five minutes after the break, albeit in controversial circumstances.

Graham Murty’s long throw was knocked on to striker Paterson to poke past David Forde from a suspiciously offside-looking position.

The match looked like getting away from Jackett’s men, but the introduction of Jason Price and Ali Fuseini for the ineffectual Dave Martin and Adam Bolder provided the visitors with increased impetus and energy.

Referee Mick Russell, whose performance failed to impress many, awarded the Lions a penalty at the second time of asking.

The Hertfordshire official initially waved away appeals for handball against Wayne Thomas, but had to point to the spot when the defender hauled down Price seconds later.

Defender Dunne saw his 63rd-minute spot-kick, and Price’s follow-up, saved.

But the Lions would equalise minutes later when two corners in quick succession eventually allowed Abdou to send his looping header over Davis and leave the sizeable travelling Lions contingent in raptures.

The goal seemed to stem Southampton’s attack and the visitors ended the match looking the more likely to snatch victory.

But a draw was perhaps the right result for two teams who will both hope to be involved in the League One promotion shake-up come next May.

Millwall: Forde; Dunne, Smith, Frampton, Barron; Hackett, Bolder (Fuseini 59), Abdou, Martin (Price 59 (Harris 83)); Alexander, Morison. Subs not used: Sullivan, Grabban, Grimes, Laird. Att: 20,103.