SAINTS' infuriating habit of conceding vital late goals surfaced again on Saturday at Wimbledon.

For the third time in the last four Premiership matches, the prospect of three points slipped from their grasp when they conceded a last-minute goal in the 1-1 draw at Selhurst Park.

Marian Pahars scored his seventh goal of the season to put Saints in front and they led until the final minute when Marcus Gayle levelled for the Dons. It was the sixth time in the last ten games that Southampton have been in front but failed to stay there at 90 minutes, a situation which left baffled manager Dave Jones saying: "I felt comfortable near the end.

"We were handling everything they threw at us and I thought we were going to hold on. It is very disappointing - in the dressing room it felt as though we had lost."

l Richard Dryden today joined Division 2 Stoke on a month's loan with a view to a possible permanent transfer although no fee has been agreed.

l After scoring an own goal in each of his last three league appearances, Scott Marshall netted at the right end in Brentford's 2-2 FA Cup draw with Plymouth. Marshall has now completed his £250,000 move from Saints to the Bees.

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