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A typical poacher’s effort from the in-form striker broke the deadlock in the 24th minute, but an uncharacteristic second-half miss let the visitors off the hook.
Town took full advantage of the reprieve by drawing level through Laurent Depoitre soon after the hour mark, before Saints lost Austin to injury as they chased a winner.
Mauricio Pellegrino made five changes to his side, including handing a first appearance of his managerial reign to Matt Targett at left-back.
With both Saints’ regular full backs, Cédric and Ryan Bertrand, sidelined by injury, Pellegrino reverted to a back four with Jack Stephens on the right.
There were also recalls for Steven Davis, Mario Lemina, Dušan Tadić and Austin, who was hoping to continue his excellent recent form in front of goal.
Huddersfield were coming into the game on the back of an eye-catching 4-1 victory at Watford, and there was evidently a spring in the step of the visitors early on.
Twice the Terriers attacked with purpose down the right, as Collin Quaner crossed low for Rajiv van La Parra, whose scuffed shot deflected into the arms of Fraser Forster.
Then Tom Ince repeated the trick in finding space near the corner of the penalty area and picked out Aaron Mooy, who took a touch and drove his shot towards the bottom corner only to find Davis in the right place to make an important block.
There was no denying Huddersfield were on top. After a free kick from Mooy was not properly cleared, Christopher Schindler met a right-wing cross with a thumping header brilliantly kept out by Forster high to his left.
It was not until midway through the first half that Saints really imposed themselves as an attacking threat, as Targett raided down the left and delivered a teasing cross nervously punched clear by Jonas Lössl.
From the same attack the hosts won a corner, from which Austin poached his fifth goal in as many starts.
It was simple stuff. James Ward-Prowse whipped in the set-piece, Wesley Hoedt flicked on and Austin, left all alone inside the six-yard box, stooped to nod in the opener.
Saints had established control of the game, but defender Schindler threatened to wrestle away their advantage when he won another header in the box, this time sending it wide of the post with Forster a spectator.
The Saints stopper was called into action when he rushed from his goal to clear a long ball, prompting Stephens to step in and carry the loose ball deep into Huddersfield territory.
It was terrific play from the defender, who just put too much on his through pass to Austin.
As Lössl raced out to collect, he got there just in front of the striker and suffered a boot in the face for his troubles as Austin tried to nick the ball away.
It was an incident that prompted a bloody nose and an extended period of treatment for the Dane, while the goalscorer was quick to apologise and wave on the physio.
It was becoming a very watchable game, as Lemina embarked on a driving run into the Town half and released Nathan Redmond with a clever reverse pass.
Redmond crossed low for Tadić, whose shot was saved at point-blank range by Lössl, before Davis’ follow-up deflected wide, while Austin’s attempt to catch the keeper out of his goal soon after was denied as Lössl hastily backpedalled to gather.
Hoedt was the first player to go into the book, rather unfortunately, after clashing heels with Tom Ince early in the second half.
Huddersfield kept believing there was a goal in the game for them, but with Saints leading they became a dangerous proposition on the counter-attack.
Lemina threatened to expose Town with a solo run but was crowded out before he could release the ball, while Redmond tore through the defence from another breakaway.
The winger did everything right as he lured in the last man and squared it for Austin, who had the chance to potentially put the game to bed as his first touch sat up to be hit, but he dragged his shot inches wide as all of St Mary’s waited for the net to bulge.
It was a lucky escape for Huddersfield, who made the most of it by drawing level on 64 minutes.
The equaliser arrived just three minutes after David Wagner made a double substitution, introducing Tommy Smith and Joe Lolley.
It was Smith who made an immediate impact, finding space on the right to pick out Depoitre, who just had to hit the target from six yards and made no mistake with a downward header past the helpless Forster.
Saints still had plenty of time to get their noses back in front. Pellegrino made a double change of his own, as Pierre-Emile Højbjerg and Sofiane Boufal entered the fray at the expense of Davis and Tadić.
His third and final substitution was enforced. The ever-dangerous Austin was alive again when Lössl kicked the ball straight to him, and returned it with interest with an explosive shot beaten away by the keeper from 20 yards.
But in doing so Austin pulled up with a muscle injury and was unable to continue, prompting Manolo Gabbiadini to take his place for the final 11 minutes with Saints pressing.
With four added minutes signalled, Targett delivered a free kick met by a powerful header from Maya Yoshida that looked destined to find the bottom corner, only to strike the foot of the post and bounce back into play as Huddersfield held on for a point.
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