Southampton concede two penalties and have James Ward-Prowse sent off as they are beaten by Sunderland

• Sunderland 2-1 Southampton - in pictures >>

Two Jordi Gomez penalties either side of half time did the damage with James Ward-Prowse red carded after conceding the second of them.

The loss meant Saints have been beaten in their last three away games, with the draw at Chelsea puncturing the run of four defeats in five on the road.

In a further blow Liverpool went four points clear of Saints in fifth place with three games remaining.

Saints made a positive start to the game with Ryan Bertrand trying his luck from just outside the area only a couple of minutes into the match but he dragged his shot across goal and wide.

Kelvin Davis was called into action for the first time on six minutes as Sebastian Larsson’s inswinging left wing free kick found Billy Jones at the far post but his downward header was gathered by the Saints stopper.

They had another go as the desperate Stadium of Light crowd got behind their side, this time Jones feeding the ball to Danny Graham, but his powerful shot from just inside the box flew narrowly over the bar.

There was no escape however on 21minutes as Sunderland took the lead from the penalty spot.

Jose Fonte tried to win a bouncing ball in the area but kicked the on running Danny Graham in the head, pole axing him.

Mike Jones had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and Jordi Gomez coolly slotted the penalty into the bottom corner.

Saints though hit back and equalised almost straight from the re-start.

The goal was a gift from Sunderland as Fonte’s long ball looked to pose no danger whatsoever as Costel Pantilimon came to collect.

However, a lack of communication between the keeper and his defence saw Sebastian Coates try to win it and clatter into his own player.

The ball dropped straight to Sadio Mane who had the simple task of finishing into the empty net from 12 yards out.

Saints might have taken the lead on 27 minutes as Bertrand whipped in a brilliant cross from the left that was met by a stooping header from Graziano Pelle but it was just behind him and he put it off target.

Sunderland were forced into a change on 31 minutes as Santiago Vergini replaced captain John O’Shea who was injured having earlier run into the arm of Shane Long in a battle for the ball.

Jones became the first player in the book for a foul on Mane.

Sunderland really should have retaken the lead six minutes before half time when Connor Wickham was presented with a great chance from a square pass into the box. It gave him the chance to shoot under little pressure from 12 yards out but he side footed over the bar.

They came even closer just before the break as Wickham’s deflected shot was headed towards goal from six yards out by Jermaine Defoe forcing Kelvin Davis into a super reaction fingertip save.

The ball came to Graham at the far post but rather than try an off balance shot from just a couple of yards he took a touch and Saints closed him down.

Davis had one more piece of first half danger to deal with as he dived to his left to turn away Larsson’s free kick.

Saints made a change at the break with Filip Djuricic replacing Long.

He almost made an instant impact on the scoreline as he collected a loose pass from Coates just outside the area and jinked outside onto his right foot to deliver a shot which he sliced off target.

Disaster struck for Saints though as they found themselves behind again and down to ten men on 55 minutes.

Ward-Prowse was caught on his heels waiting for a pass in the Sunderland half and Lee Cattermole nipped in front to steal the ball and start a break.

He played it forward to Danny Graham who got across Maya Yoshida and into the area. He managed to square to Defoe who was tracked by Ward-Prowse and brought down by a clattering challenge as he went to shoot eight yards out.

Referee Jones pointed to the spot for the second time in the match and showed Ward-Prowse a red card.

Gomez stepped up again and this time put the penalty into the other bottom corner.

Cattermole went in the book for a foul on Toby Alderweireld before Victor Wanyama followed for chopping down Gomez.

That resulted in Koeman protecting his side from losing another man by bringing Wanyama off for Steven Davis.

That followed by Mane hobbling off after being caught by Cattermole with Eljero Elia coming on.

Pelle had a half a chance with ten minutes remaining but he couldn’t hit a clean shot and it was blocked.

Saints had been solid enough down to ten men, and knew that Sunderland would surely get nervy and drop deep in the closing stages as they tried to hold on for a potentially big win in their battle for survival.

Sunderland made a double change to try and shore things up with Jack Rodwell and Adam Johnson replacing Larsson and Defoe.

Rodwell had half a chance to finish the game off as he showed strength to shrug off the attentions of Elia and fired in a shot from a tight angle. Kelvin Davis had his near post covered and stood firm to let the ball hit him and deflect away.

Up the other end Steven Davis stood up a cross from the left that Djuricic brought down on his chest but his volley goalwards was blocked.

The fourth official showed there would be four minutes of stoppage time for Saints to try and get something from the game and they so nearly did with virtually the last touch of the game.

Clyne got in a cross from the right that found Alderweireld on the half volley ten yards out but his effort was central and Pantilimon dived to his left to save and ensure Saints went away empty handed.