Ryan Manning’s own goal and Sam Bell’s glancing header twice had the Robins ahead but Cyle Larin and Ross Stewart cancelled them out.

Saints extended their unbeaten run to 20, but their winning spell ended at eight ahead of their FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City on Saturday.

The dugouts saw the oldest and youngest Championship managers face off, with Roy Hodgson’s 78 years of experience and Tonda Eckert’s 33 years of youthful energy.

Southampton’s pre-match plans were ripped up in the build-up to kick-off when captain Jack Stephens suffered an injury in the warm-up.

He was replaced by Nathan Wood at centre-back, and within two minutes had been caught out up a long ball down the middle.

Delano Burgzorg found himself with the whole half to himself but lacked the composure to slide the ball past Daniel Peretz as the Israeli goalkeeper dived at his feet.

The hosts’ disarray continued in the fifth minute when Manning headed into his own goal.

The left-back, who will miss the City clash through suspension, challenged Bell to meet an impeccable Scott Twine in-swinger but nodded past his own goalkeeper.

No one grabbed the initiative until Manning’s free-kick into the six-yard box was met by Larin just before the half-hour mark.

It was the seventh goal for the Canadian since arriving on loan from Mallorca, including in his last four starts.

City hadn’t created another opportunity after their goal until the 38th minute when Burgzorg curled over the bar and a minute later Sam Morsy rasped over from the edge of the box, but neither tested Peretz.

Southampton’s start to the second half was much more assured, as Cameron Archer forced Radek Vitek into a full dive to push behind.

Bell might not have got the decisive touch to the opener, but there was no doubt he would be credit with the Robins’ second as he netted in back-to-back appearances.

The forward ghosted in at a corner to flick Tomi Horvat’s delivery goalbound, as Saints conceded twice at home for the first time since January 17.

But they lost their lead for a second time when Tom Fellow’s stood-up cross was headed in by the unmarked Stewart – barely three minutes after coming off the bench.

The home side’s big chance to win it fell to Shea Charles but he was denied at point-blank range by Vitek, with Saints only dropping their eighth point from the last 51 available.