Southampton 1-1 Brighton: Defender Jack Stephens bags second in two games to rescue struggling Saints after Glenn Murray had scored from the spot

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As Mauricio Pellegrino reflected on a twelfth consecutive Premier League match without a victory, he paused for breath and let out a knowing nod.

'I don't want to be naive,' the Southampton manager grimaced. 'We need results. When the board has confidence in you in difficult situations, it is one of the most important victories.'

Southampton's continued loyalty is admirable but for Pellegrino, matters grow ever more ominous. As relegation rivals Swansea and Bournemouth nobble the knees of high-flying opponents, Southampton's malaise come into sharper focus.

Jack Stephens' second goal in as many games ensured Southampton secured a point on Wednesday night

The defender flicked the ball through the crowded penalty area and and into the back of the net in the 64th minute

MATCH FACTS, PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE AND STATS

Southampton (4-3-3): McCarthy 6; Cedric 5.5, Stephens 6, Hoedt 5, Bertrand 6; Romeu 5 (Boufal 45, 6), Hojbjerg 5.5, Davis 6; Ward-Prowse 6.5, Tadic 4.5 (Carrillo 45, 6), Long 5 (Gabbiadini 79)

Subs not used: Forster, Pied, Yoshida, Lemina

Manager: Manuel Pellegrino 5

Booked: Hoedt, Stephens

Brighton (4-4-1-1): Ryan 6; Schelotto 6, Dunk 6.5, Duffy 6.5, Bong 6; March 7, Stephens 6.5, Propper 6, Izquierdo 6; Gross 6, Murray 7 (Ulloa 77)

Subs not used: Krul, Baldock, Rosenior, Kayal, Knockaert, Goldson

Booked: March

Manager: Chris Hughton 6.5

Referee: Mike Dean 7

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Southampton's equaliser shown by our superb MATCH ZONE graphic

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Southampton actually played reasonably well here but once again, it was not enough and for Pellegrino, the simple facts of the matter were these. 

He has been at the club seven months and taken this team from an 8th placed finish and EFL Cup final last season into the relegation zone. This winless stretch is the club's longest run without a top-flight victory since March 1995.

The regression is stark and for a while, Brighton's early lead, gained through a Glenn Murray penalty, promised to cast the death knell on the manager's time at the club.

When the Southampton equaliser came, energy coursed through the stadium for the first time all evening. For Pellegrino, it offered hope of a dramatic revival. Yet it fizzled out, and that, unfortunately, has been the story all too often in Pellegrino's tenure. Brief hope, lasting disappointment.

Brighton ended a run of six away games without a goal as striker Glenn Murray scored a penalty in the first half

Brighton midfielder Solly March was fouled by Southampton defender Wesley Hoedt in the penalty area

Referee Mike Dean had no hesitation in awarding Brighton an early penalty at St Mary's on Wednesday night

For an hour, Southampton probed their stubborn opponents for a way back into this game. Jack Stephens headed wide and Pierre-Emile Hobjbjerg hit the crossbar. Pellegrino played two of his cards at half-time, pulling Oriol Romeu and Dusan Tadic and introducing Sofiane Boufal and £19m January signing Guido Carrillo.

Rancour grew on the terraces. Fans became impatient when players failed to show for throw-ins and groaned when the ball was passed back to the goalkeeper. They booed at half-time and jeered every lapsed pass in the second.

The eventual equaliser was scruffy. James Ward-Prowse whipped in a low free-kick. It took one deflection, two deflections and Stephens then pounced with a backheel to turn it in.

The 34-year-old took his season's tally to nine after Wesley Hoedt had brought down Solly March after 14 minutes

Murray's effort from the penalty spot also ensured that Brighton ended a run of six away games without a goal 

Brighton at home is not a gimme but it is a handy fixture. Chris Hughton's side were the lowest scoring team in the Premier League before this match with 17 goals. They have won one of their last 14 matches and failed to score in nine of those.

Yet Southampton made a dozy start and Brighton were the early risers. Jose Izquierdo should have scored within a minute but instead struck over the bar.

Brighton took the lead their start merited after 14 minutes. Izquierdo broke into the penalty area and teed up Solly March. As the winger turned smartly, Wesley Hoedt stuck out a leg and March went over. Murray finished coolly from the spot. It was the club's first Premier League away goal for 10 hours and 15 minutes.

Under-pressure Southampton manager Mauricio Pellegrino started new £19.2million striker Guido Carrillo on the bench

The Argentine striker was inevitably brought on at half-time with the Saints a goal behind after a lacklustre first-half

Hughton said: 'We will always try and get that second goal but we were up against a good team.'

Southampton eventually raised themselves from the canvas. Ward-Prowse delivered a couple of teasing crosses into the penalty area. When Matthew Ryan's clearance rebounded off Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg's, it clattered into the cross-bar.

In the second-half, Stephens' directed a free header wide of the goal. Then he turned one in. It was enough to rescue a point, but only the boardroom will decide if it is enough to preserve Pellegrino.

Leonardo Ulloa, on loan at Brighton from Leicester, tried to make an impact after being introduced as a late substitution

Midfielder James Ward-Prowse capped another impressive display by setting up the equaliser for Stephens