Southampton 1 Brighton 1: Jack Stephens rescues a point for Saints but relegation fears continue to grow

Southampton thought that a lingering cloud had been removed by selling Virgil van Dijk before the January transfer window had even opened but, five weeks on, the forecast around St Mary’s has only got gloomier.

The transfer window closed on Wednesday night with the club missing out on their main transfer target in Quincy Promes and still rooted in the relegation zone amid a winless sequence in the Premier League that now spans 12 games and more than two months.

Yes, it could have been even worse here having trailed for much of the game, following Glenn Murray’s first-half penalty, but the lack of confidence and attacking threat was striking in the subsequent struggle to translate their dominance of possession into clear chances.

West Bromwich Albion now await on Saturday and, while Southampton remain one of the few struggling clubs to have not already replaced their manager, that may just become a must-win game for Manuel Pellegrino. He might be well liked in both the boardroom and dressing-room but an urgency is beginning to develop about the situation.

Southampton have not had such a long sequence without winning in the Premier League since 1995. Pellegrino has repeatedly said that he does not fear for his job but acknowledged that a home draw was “not enough”.

Asked if he was grateful for the ongoing support of Southampton’s board, Pellegrino said: “Yes, for sure. When the board has confidence in some difficult situations, it is one of the most important victories. In difficult moments, you know exactly how people are. I am lucky because all of them have been working in a professional manner. I don’t want to be naïve. Results solve everything but, in two or three weeks, everything can change.”

Pellegrino also admitted that he would have expected more this month than just the signing of striker Guido Carrillo when Van Dijk was sold for £75 million. “We were unlucky in some aspects - some players were close,” he said.

Brighton do also remain precariously positioned after only one win themselves since November but an away performance here of defensive resilience, even allowing for their own obvious attacking limitations, provided rather more encouragement.

They certainly made noticeably the more positive start and, after pinning their hosts back for the opening 10 minutes, were soon rewarded. Ezquiel Schelotto had released Solomon March inside Southampton’s area and, having skilfully dragged the ball back, he invited a clumsy challenge from Wesley Hoedt that left referee Mike Dean instantly pointing to the penalty spot. Murray stepped up and, with Alex McCarthy committed to his right, calmly stroked Brighton into the lead.

Brighton’s first away goal in more than 10 hours did belatedly seem to awaken Southampton and they almost drew level in bizarre circumstances. Brighton goalkeeper Mathew Ryan had collected what looked like an innocuous back-pass but, having hesitated in controlling the ball, suddenly had Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg closing down on him. He still tried to make the clearance but the ball cannoned into Hojbjerg before then looping back over his head and onto the crossbar.

Southampton’s supporters vocally let the team know what they thought of the performance – and probably also the club’s lack of transfer activity – with loud booing at half-time. The reaction from Pellegrino was certainly decisive. Dusan Tadic and Oriol Romeu were both substituted and on came Soufiane Boufal and Carrillo for his Premier League debut. It meant switching formation and playing Carrillo as the central striker but, for all Southampton’s possession, there was little immediate injection of creativity.

James Ward-Prowse did pierce Brighton’s defence with a perfectly-weighted cross but, under little pressure, Jack Stephens headed wastefully over. The frustration was audibly mounting but these two players from the Southampton academy responded and did combine to equalise. Another Ward-Prowse cross had eluded the Brighton defence and, amid a crammed six-yard box, Stephens improvised to flick the ball past Ryan for his first Premier League goal.

“It was soft for a team who had defended so resolutely,” said Brighton manager Chris Hughton.

What would only have been a fifth win of the season was in sight but, with Carrillo clearly still short of match fitness and Manolo Gabbiadini again ineffectual, Brighton survived comfortably.