David McGoldrick’s fine second half goal cancelled out a dubious penalty converted by DJ Campbell as both teams got a result that didn’t really suit.

It was nearly so much better as Andrew Surman smacked the inside of the post with a free kick deep into injury time but in the end Saints had to be content with staying unbeaten for a little longer and take their point away with them into the international break.

It was a cagey start to the match with Blackpool playing a direct game trying to get their lively strikers Brett Ormerod and DJ Campbell in behind.

Saints were playing the better football but opportunities for either side were hard to come by.

The first half chance came to David McGoldrick who flicked Simon Gillett’s header towards goal but it was a tough one to control and it went over the bar.

At the other end Campbell did get in behind on a long ball but couldn’t bring it down and Kelvin Davis mopped up the danger.

Saints were dealt a blow when they conceded a penalty on 20 minutes.

Again it was ball over the top, this time there was confusion and Jan-Paul Saeijs found himself having been turned by Campbell who went down in the box.

The referee awarded a spot kick and showed Saeijs a yellow card but it looked a very soft decision.

Campbell made the most of it though when he stepped up and sent Davis the wrong way, putting the ball in the bottom corner for 1-0.

Blackpool could have doubled their lead as yet another ball over the top caught Saints out and saw them skinned for pace. This time Campbell crossed to Ormerod whose diving header was firm but straight at Davis.

Shaun Barker tried a shot from a free kick out wide but Davis was alert to it and got across to save.

Jason Euell had Saints’ genuinely decent first chance on 28 minutes but put his header from a chipped ball into the area wide of the post.

Saints were forced into a change on 34 minutes when Euell limped off with what looked to be a calf injury to be replaced by Bradley Wright-Phillips.

Andrew Surman saw an opening and had a shot from 25 yards on 36 minutes but his effort took a deflection and was taken comfortably by Paul Rachubka.

McGoldrick had a golden opportunity to equalise on 39 minutes when Rachubka came out and flapped at a cross. The ball fell to the Saints striker in the area but with the ball loose and the keeper stranded he totally mishit his shot and the chance had gone.

With Saints temporarily down to ten men with Marek Saganowski off the field receiving treatment to a head injury Campbell threatened again with an acrobatic volley in the box that Davis did brilliantly to turn over diving away to his right.

When the half time whistle went Saints knew they were going to have to create more than they had managed in the second period if they were going to get anything out of the game let alone win it.

Wotte made a switch at the break to try and get things going with Paul Wotton on for Morgan Schneiderlin.

Wotton went into the holding midfield role with Gillett advancing to play alongside Surman in the centre.

The second half started in much the same way as the first had, with Saints trying but struggling to play football on a bobbly pitch but Blackpool taking that out of the equation by being much more direct.

Saganowski had a really good chance on 52 minutes when he met Gillett’s corner but he put his header from eight yards out over the bar.

Campbell was the next to waste a great opening as he was picked out clean through. He opted to try and lift the ball over Davis rather than take it on but he only managed to scoop the ball into the Saints keeper’s arms.

There were more chances at either end as first McGoldrick couldn’t quite get a shot off in the Blackpool area before Wade Small flashed across goal after Campbell had almost got in again.

Blackpool made their first change on 56 minutes with Graeme Owens on for Alan Mahon.

Saints were still well in the game but Saeijs was being given a truly torrid time by Campbell, not helped by the fact he was often being pulled out to the right side.

Out of nothing Saints managed to level things up on 69 minutes.

The ball broke from the left side to McGoldrick and he was able to slide a low shot past Rachubka from ten yards out for 1-1.

Blackpool made a second switch with Claus Jorgensen on for Charlie Adam on 74 minutes.

Chris Perry was booked after tripping Campbell just outside the area. Stephen Craniey chipped the free kick just wide.

McGoldrick followed into the book shortly afterwards for a late challenge then Rob Edwards joined him.

Saints were really starting to squeeze on some pressure in the closing stages of the game as they chased a much needed winner.

They made a final switch with three minutes remaining with Adam Lallana replacing Jake Thomson who had struggled so much. Gillett went to right back with Lallana in the centre of midfield.

Blackpool responded with Nick Blackman coming on for Ormerod.

When the fourth official held up the board it showed there were four minutes of stoppage time to be played and Saints pushed on further looking for a goal that would surely win it.

With the four minutes already up Saints won a free kick 20 yards out just to the right of centre after Lallana was fouled while taking a shot.

Surman stepped up to take it and bent the ball around the wall and beat Rachubka but hit the inside of the post and come back out safely where it was cleared in what proved to be the last action of the match.