Southampton will kick off next season in League One on minus-10 points following a dramatic draw with Burnley at St Mary's.
Ten point deduction to kick-in next season
Southampton will kick off next season in League One on minus ten points following a draw with Burnley at St Mary's.
The Saints were handed a ten point penalty earlier this week after the Football League ruled against them after their holding company went into administration.
Southampton then knew they would have to earn a enough points to stay up this season if they wanted the ten point deduction used this term rather than next.
But despite twice taking the lead twice against Burnley, they were pegged back on each occasion, meaning because they would be going down anyway - their penalty now carries over.
Saints looked set to end a traumatic week on a high note as they twice led the play-off chasing Clarets through goals from Bradley Wright-Phillips and David McGoldrick.
But Graham Alexander pegged them back from the spot and McGoldrick missed a penalty before Clarke Carlisle earned Burnley a point.
Points deduction or not, merely being in existence next term will be an achievement with the South Coast club likely to go bust over the summer unless a buyer can be found - the administrators say they are in talks with two serious potential bidders.
It was easy to forget Burnley were in town as well, but the Clarets had plenty to play for needing a win to guarantee they finish in the play-off places.
Early lead
But it was the beleaguered Saints who took the lead in the 11th minute when when Burnley failed to clear Paul Wotton's corner and Simon Gillett played in Wright-Phillips.
The striker's shot was half-blocked by the considerable frame of Clarets keeper Brian Jensen but the ball looped up off the Dane and into the net.
Gillett and Wright-Phillips then spurned great chances to put Saints out of sight, both finding themselves through on goal only to shoot too close to Jensen.
And in the 32nd minute, Saints defender Jan-Paul Saeijs felled Martin Paterson in the area and Alexander slammed home the penalty.
But on the stroke of half-time, Lloyd James crossed for Jason Euell and although his initial shot was kept out by Jensen, McGoldrick was on hand to tuck the ball away.
Southampton should have grabbed the crucial third on the hour when Rhys Williams tugged at Euell in the area, but Jensen guessed correctly to keep out McGoldrick's tame penalty.
And they were made to pay when Robbie Blake's free-kick eventually found Carlisle, who lashed a volley past Davis for the equaliser.
Burnley could have stolen the win but substitute Jay Rodriguez and Blake were superbly denied by Southampton keeper Davis.
