Jay Rodriguez scores a late equaliser for Southampton against Sunderland as they draw 1-1

Sunderland stunned St Mary’s when Jermain Defoe put the visitors ahead with an 80th-minute penalty after being fouled by Saints captain Jose Fonte.

But five minutes later super sub Jay Rodriguez’s deflected 85th –minute strike squirmed past rookie goalkeeper Jordon Pickford, who had made some outstanding saves to keep Saints at bay in the second half.

Saints’ brightest spark in the early exchanges of a dire first half was Dusan Tadic.

The Serbian playmaker had an early cross from the right clawed away by Pickford but he soon quickened pulses with a cleanly-struck half volley that flew narrowly over the top left corner.

Then a slide rule pass into Charlie Austin’s path was struck first time without the No 10 needing to check his stride.

Austin’s powerful tenth-minute strike, in his first start of the season, was on course for the bottom left corner, but Pickford was equal to it and Jose Fonte volleyed over when the subsequent corner broke to him on the edge of the area.

Sunderland were grateful for the presence of Lamine Kone in their back four.

He had been a doubt for this match, but the Ivorian did well to shepherd Nathan Redmond out of danger after a good run following Oriel Romeu’s pass.

Redmond then teed up Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg by heading down Tadic’s chipped pass but the Dane’s volley was blocked.

Sunderland soon began to impose themselves.

Adrian Januzaj gave Sunderland more width on the left as the first half progressed, but it was from the opposite flank that Sunderland had their best chance of the half.

Left-back Patrick Van Aanholt’s inswinging cross from the right found Kone unmarked at the far post.

Fortunately the big centre-half’s free header from inside the six-yard box flew across goal and wide of Fraser Forster’s left-hand post.

Redmond was booked for dissent shortly afterwards after remonstrating with Lee Mason when he conceded a foul deep in the Sunderland half.

And Saints were relieved when Van Aanholt failed to reproduce the quality of his previous dead ball when his compatriot Van Dijk conceded a free-kick 30 yards out.

Sunderland continued to look the more likely to score. Defoe nearly got in front of Fonte after good work down the Sunderland right from the fit-again Fabio Borini and Jack Rodwell headed a right-flank Januzaj free-kick wide.

Other than Austin’s tenth-minute strike, Saints only first-half shot on target was from Cedric Soares. But it was straight at Pickford, the 22 year-old keeper making his first Premier League appearance since January in the absence of the injured Vito Mannone.

Van Dijk did enough to guide Borini away from the danger zone as half-time approached and a poor first half showing was summed up when Fonte miscued a cross-field pass that drifted harmlessly out for a goal kick.

The first half began with a booking for Steve Davis following the Northern Ireland captain’s foul on Sunderland debutant Javier Manquillo. Then Borini was given a talking to for a foul on Redmond. Sunderland did enough to put off Fonte as he attempted to get in a header at the near post. Saints’ frustration grew as Austin was flagged offside twice in five minutes. He could certainly count himself unfortunate with the second.

Hojbjerg’s powerful 20-yarder from Tadic’s pass was deflected wide.

Tadic fouled Januzaj as he ran at the Saints defence on the hour, but from the free-kick on the edge of the area, Borini could only sidefoot the ball tamely at Forster.

Steven Pienaar went into the book for a foul on Hojbjerg and was soon replaced by Jeremain Lens.

Saints also made a change in the 67th minute and it was soon followed by their best period of the match.

Shane Long replaced Tadic and took Redmond’s place alongside Austin, allowing the summer signing to occupy the deeper role at the top of the midfield diamond.

It nearly paid immediate dividends as Redmond ran at the Sunderland back four and fired at Pickford, who needed a strong right hand to keep out Long’s powerful drive shortly afterwards.

Pickford produced an even better save in the 72nd minute, once again diving low to his right, to keep out a deflected Redmond left-footer.

Jay Rodriguez was given a terrific reception when he replaced Austin in the 73rd minute.

But within five minutes Saints conceded the decisive penalty. Defoe turned smartly on the corner of the six-yard box as he received Jeremain Lens' cross from the right – and was brought down by Fonte on the near-post corner of the six-yard box.

Defoe made no mistake with the penalty, firing emphatically into the roof of the net in front of a half-stunned, half-delighted Northam End.

Saints won a free-kick on the right-hand side of the penalty area that did not clear the wall and when Pickford punched a cross clear from Ward-Prowse it looked like it was not going to be Saints’ afternoon.

But in the 85th minute Jay Rodriguez beat Pickford with a deflected 20-yarder that squirmed past the goalkeeper’s weaker left hand.

Suddenly Saints were back on level terms and sensing the chance of a second. They nearly had it when Targett stepped up to take a 25-yard free-kick in a central position, but the curler was fired narrowly wide of the left-hand post.

There was great relief when Van Aanholt failed to clear the first defender with a 90th minute corner – but four minutes’ injury time remained.

Saints threatened to snatch all three points in time added on. But Long shinned a cross over the bar and Fonte and Rodriguez desperately tried to get on the end of the Irishman’s cross before Romeu’s shot was blocked.