Southampton left it late to rescue a point from a 1-1 draw with fellow strugglers Blackpool.
Seasiders undone by late strike
Southampton left it late to rescue a point from a 1-1 draw with fellow strugglers Blackpool.
The stalemate is not enough to lift the Saints out of the bottom three, but it keeps them in touch with those sides directly above them in the Championship table.
The Seasiders are also yet to secure their second tier status and they now sit six points clear of the drop zone.
Blackpool, who handed a debut to on-loan Burnley midfielder Alan Mahon, went into the game having collected seven points from their previous three outings.
Southampton were seeking their first win in four and tried their luck inside the opening minute when Jason Euell collected possession and hit a 30-yard shot which whistled just wide.
But with on-loan Leicester striker DJ Campbell looking lively up front, Blackpool began to establish a foothold in proceedings.
The former Birmingham man constantly looked to get behind the visiting defence, but Saints should have opened the scoring in the 12th minute.
Simon Gillett delivered an outswinging corner from the fight flank, and David McGoldrick sent a firm header over the bar from 12 yards.
Blackpool punished Saints eight minutes later when Campbell was fouled by Jan Paul Saeijs inside the box and stepped up to fire a right-footed penalty into the bottom left-hand corner.
Vital
It was Campbell's sixth goal since joining the Seasiders in January and a major fillip to their hopes of recording another vital victory.
Moments later, the hosts could have doubled their advantage when Campbell crossed dangerously and Brett Ormerod powered a header goalwards but Saints goalkeeper Kelvin Davis repelled his effort with an outstanding save.
Southampton were dealt a blow in the 33rd minute when Euell succumbed to injury and was replaced by Bradley Wright-Phillips.
In the 35th minute, Saints midfielder Andrew Surman tried his luck with a left-foot shot from 25 yards but Blackpool goalkeeper Paul Rachubka saved comfortably.
In the 39th minute, Morgan Schneiderlin found the space to hit a right-foot shot which Stephen Crainey did well to block.
Wade Small, who hit the winner on his Blackpool debut in last weekend's 1-0 win at Barnsley, fired just wide of the post from 20 yards shortly after the restart.
The Seasiders desperately needed a killer second but it was not forthcoming and Southampton began to enjoy spells of sustained pressure.
In the 51st minute, Marek Saganowski headed over the crossbar from 12 yards but Campbell went close at the other end with a fine volleyed effort from distance.
Yet the visitors continued to probe and were rewarded in the 69th minute when Wright-Phillips crossed dangerously from the right flank and McGoldrick fired home a low left-foot shot from 12 yards out.
Blackpool went in search of victory but Charlie Adam fired over the bar from 20 yards as both sides were forced to settle for a point.
