The other significance of this result is that Southampton manager Paul Sturrock might be spared for a little longer.
There was no mention of support for Sturrock from Rupert Lowe, Southampton’s chairman, who did not comment in the match programme on either his future or continuing transfer speculation involving Beattie.
Beattie’s penalty, struck with characteristic self-confidence, came in the last minute, when he had been knocked to the ground by Craig Short in attempting to reach Paul Telfer’s cross. Furthermore, Beattie had provided the low centre for Anders Svensson’s equalising goal a little earlier.
Sturrock has been charged with losing the players’ respect, with alienating Beattie and with not playing sufficiently composed or imaginative football. Damning comments, and it should be remembered that his chairman is a man who sees off managers at an alarming rate.
What Lowe describes as “the predominantly negative media coverage of our club”, may have affected the gate, which, at 27,492, was the lowest at St Mary’s for almost two years.
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After 32 minutes a centre by Fabrice Fernandes dropped at the feet of Kevin Phillips, who had found some space in Blackburn’s penalty area and stabbed the ball past Brad Friedel for the game’s opening goal.
Blackburn made a double substitution at half-time, bringing on Paul Dickov for Dwight Yorke, as well as Lucas Neill for Garry Flitcroft, a move that reinvigorated their attack. Four minutes after the restart, Dickov slid the ball through to Barry Ferguson — Blackburn’s captain, whom Andy D’Urso mistakenly booked twice without sending him off — and the finish was neat. D’Urso was unavailable for comment afterwards, and it now remains to be seen what action will be taken.
Then Dickov put Blackburn ahead. Brett Emerton’s exceptional cross from the byline found the striker, whose quick shot went over the head of Antti Niemi. That was in the 68th minute and Blackburn, you sensed, would now go on to win. Perhaps they should have done, given that another shot by Dickov was beaten out by the goalkeeper at close range.
Yet Southampton equalised six minutes after Dickov’s goal. Beattie crossed from the right, Fernandes, lavishly praised by Sturrock, laid the ball off and Svensson scored.
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Southampton: Niemi, Telfer, Lundekvam, Higginbotham, Le Saux, Fernades, Delap, Prutton, A Svensson, Beattie, Phillips
Blackburn: Friedel, Emerton, Short, Johansson, Gray (Gresko 89min), Flitcroft (Neill h-t), Ferguson, Tugay, Matteo, Yorke (Dickov h-t), Stead
Scorers: Southampton: Phillips 32, Svensson 74, Beattie 90 pen
Blackburn: Ferguson 50, Dickov 68
Referee: A D’Urso
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Attendance: 27,492