Simon Cox pressed his claims for a Premier League chance with a clinical double strike but Albion had to settle for a 2-2 draw in their friendly at Southampton.

Cox twice gave the Baggies the lead after half-time following a goalless first-half at St Mary’s, but the Saints twice drew level through substitutes Jack Cork and Rickie Lambert.

But the striker was the man to make the strongest case for promotion from what was effectively a second-string side on the south coast.

Jonas Olsson, Nicky Shorey, Chris Brunt, Paul Scharner, Youssouf Mulumbu, Jerome Thomas, James Morrison and Peter Odemwinngie were all missing again as they were held back for Saturday’s trip to Bristol City.

But, while the Baggies laboured at times, Cox made the most of his chance by displaying his poacher’s instincts.

Assistant boss Michael Appleton said: “He did what we expected him to do. His first goal was a poacher’s goal and he preys on mistakes from defenders and keepers.

“The second goal was the kind of chance you would expect him to put away because that’s what he’s used to doing.”

The Saints threatened first when a clumsy challenge from Pablo Ibanez handed them a free-kick which Dan Harding delivered towards the far post and Boaz Myhill punched away.

Albion replied on 10 minutes when they stole possession inside the Southampton half and Graham Dorrans, wearing the captain’s armband, tested Bartosz Bialkowski with a 25-yard effort that the goalkkeeper held low down.

Cox then did well to win a corner and Dorrans delivered dangerously to the edge of the six-yard box but the impressive Craig Dawson’s header looped over.

Albion could have edged ahead on the stroke of half-time, after Ishmael Miller outmuscled Dan Seaborne but saw his shot well saved.

Southampton began the second-half well, with substitute Steve De Ridder beating Joe Mattock and crossing for Guly Do Prado, whose shot was deflected wide.

Albion found their feet gradually and Miller headed a chance straight at Bialkowski.

But the Baggies went ahead on 58 minutes, as they broke the full length of the field after Billy Jones had scrambled a header by Do Prado off his own goalline.

Jones found Miller, who turned and picked out Marek Cech run on the left. Cech’s cross was fumbled badly by Bialkowski and Cox forced it home from a couple of yards.

But Southampton grabbed the equaliser they deserved on 73 minutes when Cech conceded a clumsy free-kick, Harding delivered into the box and half-time substitute Cork powered home a header.

It took just two minutes for Albion to restore their lead, however, as a fabulous through ball from George Thorne found Cox, who raced clear and produced an equally impressive finish.

But the Saints struck in the dying moments with another substitute, Lambert, leaping highest to nod home a De Ridder cross.

Albion then went close to snatching a winner when Marc-Antoine Fortune unleashed a fierce 25-yard drive that rattled the post but, in the end, the Baggies settled for a draw.