Once again Saints failed to win a game and although it moved them up a place, it was still a big disappointment.
The strange thing about this game is that I can't think of one Saints player who had a bad game, even the two substituted at half time did not play badly, they were just victims of the fact that Mauricio Pellegrino got his team selection wrong.
But if 11 players out on the pitch were not playing badly why didn't we win the game ?
The answer is that we did not play as or even look like a team, we lacked leadership both on and off the pitch and if you cannot fault the players, all proven at the highest levels, then there is only one place to look and that is the manager.
Indeed how could we have our four highest signings all on the bench ? why is Lemina costantly overlooked ? These are all puzzling questions which suggest that if the fans don't know what the manager is doing, nor do the players and to put it bluntly neither does he !
Brighton came out of the blocks quickly and should have been in the lead in the opening minutes and then did take the lead through a penalty, this was virtually their last significant effort on goal of the game which then fell into a familiar pattern, Saints having lots of possession but creating very few chances.
Indeed the best chance fell to Pierre Emile Hojbjerg's Arse in the first half when he charged down the goalkeeper and saw his effort rebound from the crossbar, that was Saints luck.
At half time Pellegrino made two changes and threw on Garrillo up front alongside Long and brought on Boufal instead of Romeu.
In fairness both looked likely and put in a shift, but this was 11 individuals and not a team performance.
When Saints equalised there was only going to be one sde that might win it, but despite huffing and puffing Saints never really looked like getting a goal and the game ended with a result that did little for either side.
The question now is whether pellegrino can survive, individually this is a talented squad, but having now had 7 months in charge Pellegrino is no nearer making this into a cohesive team unit than the day he joined, indeed they are far far away from where they were back in July even.
If he hasn't got it right now, I fear he is never going to be able to do so, as I say no one can accuse the players of not playing for the manager, no one could accuse them of not trying, but the fact is the manager is not doing his job and they do not know what to do as a team, they have no guidance and no direction.
The second half of this game was the first time all season that Pellegrino showed some bravery and tried to win a game, but this was not the match to throw on new signings and suddenly expect us to look like Barcelona.
Listening to a Brighton fan walking over the rail bridge after the game talking to a friend on the phone, he was reporting they were battered and hanging on, yet they did and that tells a story.
Something has to change in the camp and having failed to make major signings then there is only one change we can make and that is the manager.
I can understand why they have not done so so far, but now enoughis enough Les Reed has to accept that this appointment was wrong and a change has to be made, Pellegrino cannot claim he has not had a chance, there is not a team in the league who would allow a manager to keep his job after only one win in 16 games, that is an applalling record and one that would see a manager sacked at any club.
So a big set back for Saints but it is far from a terminal one, whoever is the manager we have to keep fighting to get that win under our belts and move up the table, we could have been 14th this morning with a win, but we aren't, but it shows that things are far from unrecoverable.
Saints need to get the feelgood factor back, they need to get the confidence back, they need to get the supporter base behind them, there is only one way this will all happen, action is needed now before it truly is too late.