AN inspired second-half fightback saved a deserved point for Southampton in a non-stop thriller at The Dell and kept up the pressure on the beleaguered Everton manager, Joe Royle. After 42 years in the top flight, the Merseyside club are slowly being sucked into a morale-destroying battle for survival.

Everton had abandoned their recent long ball game in favour of some intelligent short passing, and it paid dividends in the 11th minute, albeit from a set piece. Nicky Barmby swung in a corner from the right, Duncan Ferguson came rampaging in from the back of the box, heading the ball fiercely down into the turf, and it bounced through a static defence and hit the back of the net for the Scot's eighth league goal of the season.

In the 27th minute Everton scored from a glorious move. Barmby's overhead kick on the right touch line fell for Barrett who sprinted forward then whipped the ball inside. Gary Speed ran onto it like a Rugby League centre, driving through the defence at an angle and firing past Taylor.

In the 58th minute Robbie Slater played a one-two with Le Tissier on the edge of the area, another with Ostenstad and rifled a low shot into Southall's right-hand corner for his first goal for Southampton. In the 61st minute Southampton were level. Craig Short, under no pressure whatsoever, rose to meet an aimless cross and headed inexplicably into his own net.