Cheers of celebration at Saints scoring at Fratton Park turned into muted frustration as fans watched on via a stream at St Mary's Stadium.
Hundreds had packed out the Northam fan zone in Southampton as Tonda Eckert's men took the trip down the M27 to face rivals Portsmouth.
Ahead of kick-off former Saints players Mark Dennis and Ian Turner entertained the crowd of about 700 at St Mary's.
Early anger at a missed opportunity turned into celebration when Leo Scienza scored - but ultimately Saints fans were left unsatisfied.
Ebanie Gallagher said she was left disappointed after the team's performance in the second half.
She said: “I think if that’s how the team reacts when Scienza gets injured then we just have to take a point."
Steve Paulley said he was disappointed with the finishing from Saints.
He said: “I think Armstrong didn't take his first chance in the first half.
"He had two chances in the first half. He should have scored one of them tell the truth. At the end of the day, away, arch rivals, 1-1 I’ll take that. Unfortunately, that takes them out of the relegation zone.”
Ben Baki was another left wondering at what could have been but was pleased with the quality of the match.
He said: “The game was good. I called it at half time. I said, it's going to be 0-0, 1-1. In all fairness to us, we had far better chances, but we didn't take them.
"Adam Armstrong had two chances of the first half.
"That first chance should have gone in, he should have scored. But you know, if you want my opinion, we were the better team for about 90 minutes.”
Andy Pickles was left wondering after Southampton’s number nine fluffed his lines in the first half
Andy said: “I thought that we had better chances, Adam Armstrong should have taken his goal.
"I'd like to have seen 2-0 and - look - we can't defend corners at all, I don't know.
"So that's disappointing. But yeah, I guess one we'll go with that. We didn't lose. That's the main thing. Up the Saints.”
Richard Dawson was more optimistic than other fans though still upset a win was not achieved.
He said: “I think it’s a fair result. I’m not disappointed, really, but we were the better team, I couldn't stomach a loss.
"To be fair, with the season we’ve had we can't expect much more than what we've received.”
Laura Middleditch and Darren Cheffings felt, like others, that more could be achieved with Darren saying: “I think it was a pretty chaotic game. I think that is pretty fair."
Laura added: “It's never good for us to score early, never a good choice but the atmosphere, it was great... I loved it. Brilliant.”
Many had turned out with their families to enjoy the derby rivalry.
Dad James Pitcher was with his son Dylan Pitcher, 11.
James said: “Well, it's intense. It's the reason why the players play the game.
"I mean, a lot of the fans probably don't really realise why it's a rivalry, but it is, it is amazing."
Geoff Lindsay, Sarah Wyatt and Max Lindsay from the Rainbow Saints - the official LGBTQ+ support group - were at the fan zone.
Sarah said: “This is the match that we all look forward to and slightly dread because the way our form has been recently is it's a bit nerve making."
Pals Conor Hamilton, James Gallop, and Aaron Corney-Punch said there was "not enough passion".
Conor said: “The South Coast derby isn't what it used to be. I think, I think it's just there's not enough passion, not many big tackles going in, there's not enough.
"Two bookings. It's just not enough. No one's going in, no one's going in, no one's final on attacking.”
Disappointed with the missed chances in the first half, James added: “We had a had a big chance with Adam Armstrong in the first half.
"I mean, he probably could have took an extra touch, maybe round the keeper and then I think he would have had a bit of an open goal, but we were unlucky not to score it. I'll take a point at the end of the day. As long as we didn't lose, that's the main thing.”
Aaron places the blame for not taking the full three points on the style of play. He said: “It felt like they were playing for a draw rather than a win.
"The problem is modern day football, they're too scared to just shoot. They're more like to just pass it around the box because there’s more of a backlash when you lose on social media.”
