SAINTS suffered late, late heartbreak as they were forced to settle for a point against Brighton.

A moment of brilliance from Armando Broja looked like it would be enough for victory after he notched his fifth goal of the season just before the half-hour mark.

However, deep into 10 minutes of second-half stoppage time, Neal Maupay popped up to grab an equaliser and earn the visitors a 1-1 draw.

Saints players dropped to the floor on the final whistle after the crushing late disappointment, which extends their winless run to four matches.

Ralph Hasenhuttl made two changes to the side which drew against Leicester on Wednesday evening. Lyanco replaced the injured Jan Bednarek to make his first St Mary’s start, while Broja was preferred to Adam Armstrong.

He moved to the bench alongside the fit-again Jack Stephens, as well as Harry Lewis, Ibrahima Diallo and Theo Walcott, with Fraser Forster, Yan Valery and Moussa Djenepo dropping out of the squad.

Brighton, managed by former Saints defender Graham Potter, made five changes from their draw at West Ham as they sought a first win in 11 games. One of those to miss out was the injured ex-Saints skipper Adam Lallana, as well as Lewis Dunk. In came Tariq Lamptey, Shane Duffy, Enock Mwepu, Pascal Gross and Dan Burn.

Just like they did against Leicester on Wednesday, Saints came flying out of the blocks against the Seagulls.

They should have been in front inside four minutes. From a counter-attack, Che Adams sent Broja clean through on goal, but the striker was denied by the feet of Robert Sanchez. The goalkeeper was also alert to then deny Adams on the rebound.

Broja found space again in the box soon after, doing well to wriggle away from Shane Duffy before his effort from a tight angle was saved by the foot of Sanchez.

Lyanco then blocked a Mwepu effort at the other end, before Duffy got in the way of a low Tino Livramento strike.

The impressive Lyanco then had a shot himself, which was deflected over the bar, before Livramento shanked a volley over the crossbar.

Alex McCarthy was then called into action for the first time. The stopper, who turned 32 on Friday, got down well to parry away Mwepu’s strike, before a similar stop from Leandro Trossard’s 20-yarder.

The deadlock was broken just before the half-hour mark. Redmond was heavily involved, recording an assist for the fourth home game in succession as his flicked header sent Broja away. The Albania international still had plenty to do, but he kept his composure to chop inside a sliding Duffy before slotting home with the outside of his right foot.

Saints made a strong start to the second period, and came within inches of doubling their tally. Redmond sent Livramento scampering down the right wing, the teenager cutting the ball back for Broja in the box. However, the striker could not add to his tally, dragging an effort wide of the post.

James Ward-Prowse was next to have a go, looking to catch goalkeeper Sanchez out at his near post from a wide free-kick, but the shot cleared the crossbar.

Potter turned to his bench 10 minutes after the restart, adding an extra striker in Aaron Connolly to replace Gross. And Brighton almost equalised instantly, Neal Maupay firing wide from the edge of the box.

The game then entered into a bit of a lull, before Brighton almost popped up with an equaliser 12 minutes from time. Connolly got into the box and cut the ball back for Maupay, whose low shot from 15 yards was well stopped by the foot of McCarthy.

Hasenhuttl made his first switch of the afternoon just as the game moved into the final 10 minutes of regulation time with Armstrong replacing Broja.

Brighton’s cause was not helped as they had to play out the closing stages with just 10 men after Trossard was stretchered off with the Seagulls having already used their three subs.

And following that lengthy stoppage, 10 minutes of added time were shown by the fourth official.

Just as time looked to be running out, Brighton struck.

Jakub Moder's initial free-kick went into the wall, but his follow-up volley fell kindly at the feet of Maupay to slam home, notching a late equaliser for the second time this week.

Saints: McCarthy; Livramento, Lyanco, Salisu, Walker-Peters; Ward-Prowse, Romeu; Redmond, Tella (Elyounoussi, 84); Broja (A Armstrong, 81), Adams.

Unused subs: Stephens, Perraud, Diallo, Smallbone, Walcott, Long, Lewis (g/k).

Booked: Tella, Salisu, Elyounoussi, Romeu.

Brighton: Sanchez; Veltman (Moder, 78), Duffy, Burn; Lamptey (March, 63), Mwepu, Bissouma, Gross (Connolly, 55), Cucurella; Trossard; Maupay.

Unused subs: Roberts, Richards, Mac Allister, Locadia, Steele (g/k), Scherpen (g/k).

Booked: Duffy, Bissouma.

Referee: Anthony Taylor.

VAR: Martin Atkinson.