NIGEL QUASHIE believes Everton were "lucky" to escape St Mary's with a point.

The Saints midfielder admitted Marcus Bent's last gasp equaliser felt like a "kick in the teeth", but stressed that Saints would take confidence from their best performance of the season.

Quashie made his debut alongside Jamie Redknapp in midfield as each of Saints' five transfer window signings started the game.

"We played excellently and I couldn't really see Everton scoring the way we were playing," said Quashie.

"It was a great strike by Marcus Bent and there is nothing you can do about it.

"We opened Everton up a few times and all credit to them.

"They are where they are in the league, they are going for Europe and they are a good side.

"Everton have come out of this one lucky. They will be happy with the point and we are disappointed not to get all three.

"You have got to be encouraged by the way we performed, but we have to kill the game off.

"We are more than happy with the way we played, but that's the Premier League for you.

"We were magnificent and the way the lads played was out of this world."

Saints dominated, but goals from Peter Crouch and Henri Camara were not enough after James Beattie had opened the scoring on his return to St Mary's.

Quashie, though, is confident Saints can now avoid relegation.

"If we show the desire and the hunger and keep playing like that we will be okay," he said. "We were solid all over the park, we got amongst them.

"It's disappointing but if we keep playing like that I'm sure we will be okay.

"If we had got the three points the teams above us would have been seriously looking at picking up points themselves.

"I don't think many teams will be wanting to come to Southampton. We have got more than enough to stay in this division.

"If I didn't think the job of staying in this division could be done I wouldn't have come here.

"It's hard to pick yourself up from it. It's a kick in the teeth, but we will learn from that. We played attacking football.

"The way we played will give us something to build-on. We have to keep concentrating and finish games off."

Quashie has been out injured since signing for Saints and was pleased with the way he came back from his knee ligament problem.

He said: "I'm pleased with how it went. I haven't played for a month and it's a bit sore. I'll just have a rest now, I'm cup-tied so that gives me more time.

"But I just wanted to get back playing. I'd had this niggle but I just wanted to come through it and get a game under my belt.

"I was happy with the way things went.

"The boys have been great to me and I can't thank the supporters enough for the way they have responded.

"It was brilliant playing alongside Jamie. It's a pleasure to be here. It's a football club that's got everything and it's just a case of getting out of the position we are in. I'm sure that we will get out of it.

"It's a massive club facilities wise and is a great place to play your football.

"I'm lucky to be playing here."

Quashie also had words of praise for fellow new boys Camara and Olivier Bernard.

He added: "Camara is looking really sharp, Olivier Bernard as well.

"With Camara he has got that injection of pace and can turn things around when you are under a bit of pressure.

"He can turn bad balls into good balls and he took his goal magnificently.

"He has settled in really well.

"Olivier Bernard was solid, so we have all come in and managed to adapt."