Norwich City's Josh Murphy maintained his hot streak in Monday's Premier League development 1-1 draw against Southampton's Under-21s on the south-coast.

Murphy notched for Mark Robson's squad in the previous home 3-0 win over Sunderland's under-21s and the teenage wide player stepped up again to rifle a long range free kick past Cody Cropper before Sam McQueen equalised after the interval for the play-off chasing young Saints.

Robson's squad remain on course for a top half finish with four games left in the inaugural competition which will secure them a place among the elite under next season's proposed two-tier split.

Adel Gafaiti and Jamar Loza were not involved following their recent loan moves to Oldham Athletic and Southend United respectively and there was no place in the squad for Elliott Bennett who trained with the development squad earlier this month in a bid to step up his fitness after knee ligament surgery.

The Murphy twins combined after just two minutes, but Josh lifted over from close range. Sam Gallagher, who recently scored for Southampton's first-team against the Canaries, tested Remi Matthews before Josh Murphy's free-kick embarrassed Cropper from 30-yards out. City's goalscorer went close to a second and Cameron Norman dragged wide but the hosts' levelled in the 56th minute when McQueen superbly curled a strike past Matthews. McQueen then struck a post before substitute Omar Rowe rattled the crossbar, but Jacob Murphy almost edged City back in front in the final seconds when Matt Young hacked off the Saints' line.

• Southampton: Cropper (Johns 90), Young, McCarthy, Turnbull, Targett, Gape, Reed, Sinclair (Rowe 78), McQueen (Flannigan 90), Seager, Gallagher. Subs (not used): Debayo, Hesketh.

• Goal: McQueen (56)

• Norwich City: Matthews, McNeil (Young 72), McFadden, Awuah, Toffolo, Jacob Murphy (Hodd 85), Norman, Grant, Josh Murphy, Hall-Johnson, Morris. Subs (not used): Killip, Lokko.

• Goal: Josh Murphy (17)

• Southend boss Phil Brown is hoping Loza can boost the Shrimpers' League Two promotion push after he scored his first goal since joining on a month's loan in Monday night's 3-0 win over Oxford. The teenage forward sealed a victory which moved Brown's side back into the final play-off place.

'I'm pleased to have Jamar with us,' said Brown. 'He's a quick striker who has a real eye for goal. There has just been a bit of quality missing in the final third in recent weeks, but hopefully he can provide that. He's a young lad who will be hoping to make a big impression. He's highly regarded at Norwich. In the last two seasons we have seen Britt Assombalonga and Cauley Woodrow come on loan to the club and make an impact. We're hoping Jamar can do exactly the same.'