CAPTAIN fantastic James Ward-Prowse scored twice to bring Saints from two goals behind at Brighton & Hove Albion, as the two south-coast sides played out a 2-2 draw.

The 27-year-old struck another excellent free-kick to give his struggling team a chance right before half-time, after Danny Welbeck had opened inside just 90 seconds at Amex Stadium.

Mohammed Salisu’s wretched form had earlier continued with an unfortunate own goal to double the home side’s advantage before Saints sadly saw Livramento depart with what looks to be a serious knee injury in the first-half.

But Ward-Prowse inspired the down Saints with that set-piece goal to halve the deficit, and followed it up with a thunderous effort from outside the area right after the interval to level the scores.

The classy England international produced a T gesture with his hands in celebration, in recognition of his teenage teammate who left the pitch in severe visible pain.

Brighton hadn’t scored at home since January, going five matches without finding the net including a 0-0 draw with Norwich last time out at the Amex.

Ralph Hasenhuttl made six changes after the dismal Thursday night defeat at Burnley, changing two defenders, two midfielders and the two forwards – reverting to 4-2-2-2.

But it took just 90 seconds of facing a Saints side in disarray to cut their run. Marc Cucuralla’s ball across was not dealt with between Mohammed Salisu and Fraser Forster going to ground, allowing Welbeck to tap in from yards out.

Livramento hit the post with a deflected effort and Che Adams could not quite stretch to the rebound to turn into open net.

Neal Maupay then nodded in for a second from a corner within 20 minutes, but it was offside from the initial headed Lewis Dunk pass to give Saints reprieve.

Disaster struck for Livramento, going to ground with a serious knee injury before half-time. In visible pain, the 19-year-old was stretchered off the pitch with oxygen and a well-wish from Hasenhuttl and pal Armando Broja.

Romain Perraud came on in his place, and play began with a more sombre tone. Saints, however, were unable to see the half out without the concession of a second.

Afforded too much space out on Walker-Peters’ new right-hand side, Leandro Trossard’s cross was astonishingly stroked into the corner of Fraser Forster’s goal by the unfortunate Salisu.

Yet captain Ward-Prowse threw his side a lifeline going into added time, converting his 14th direct free-kick in the Premier League with an excellent low strike off the post to Robert Sanchez’s bottom-right.

The 27-year-old then drew Saints level with a thumping effort from the edge of the area 10 minutes into the second-half, after superb set-up play from Nathan Tella and an Oriol Romeu backheel.

The stunning low strike was Ward-Prowse’s ninth of the Premier League season, a personal best total – after reaching eight last campaign.

After Saints had spent much of the half pushing for a third, substitute Gross cannoned a shot from outside the area into Forster’s bottom corner but the linesman ruled it out for offside.

VAR agreed with the on-field decision, but it was as tight as they come and Hasenhuttl’s charges got away with a serious lapse in concentration 10 minutes from the end.

Brighton: Sanchez; Veltman, Webster (Gross, 15), Dunk, Cucurella; Mwepu (March, 60), Caicedo, Mac Allister, Trossard; Welbeck, Maupay (Sarmiento, 85)

Unused subs: Alzate, Duffy, Ferguson, Lallana, Offiah, Steele (g/k)

Booked: Cucurella

Saints: Forster; Livramento (Perraud, 36), Bednarek, Salisu, Walker-Peters; Romeu, Ward-Prowse, Redmond, Tella (S Armstrong, 66); Long (Broja, 79), Adams

Unused subs: Valery, Lyanco, Diallo, Elyounoussi, A Armstrong, Caballero (g/k)

Referee: Robert Jones

VAR: Michael Salisbury