A second-half equaliser from Oriol Romeu has cancelled out Joleon Lescott's opener to deny Aston Villa a crucial victory at Southampton this afternoon.

Oriol Romeu of Southampton scores his team's first goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Southampton and Aston Villa at St Mary's Stadium on December 5, 2015 © Getty Images

Southampton were in near-complete control of the first half, as Dusan Tadic and Graziano Pelle sent early efforts on goal over the bar, while Sadio Mane sliced an effort off target from a good position.

Villa's first effort on target came in the 21st minute, as Idrissa Gueye tried his luck from outside the penalty area, only for Southampton goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg to deny the midfielder.

The visitors required keeper Brad Guzan to maintain their first-half clean sheet, as the the American denied both James Ward-Prowse and Pelle in quick succession.

Remi Garde's side took the lead against the run of play on 44 minutes, when Lescott headed in from a Jordan Veretout corner.

Joleon Lescott of Aston Villa celebrates scoring his team's frist goal with his team mate Jordan Ayew during the Barclays Premier League match between Southampton and Aston Villa at St Mary's Stadium on December 5, 2015 © Getty Images

Villa grew in confidence after the break, with Jordan Ayew twice seeing efforts get blocked, before Lescott headed over the bar from a corner.

Saints substitute Juanmi troubled the Villa defence after coming on for Tadic, and the Spanish forward headed wide from a Cedric Soares cross moments later, while the former Malaga man was denied by Guzan from outside the area.

Southampton finally found a goal on 73 minutes, when a Ward-Prowse corner fell to substitute Romeu, who fired an effort beyond the reach of Guzan.

The visitors pushed their opponents for another goal before the final whistle, with Ashley Westwood firing over the bar, but Villa held on to secure a point.