Massimo Maccarone finally ended his scoring drought with Middlesbrough's equaliser to take the shine off a stunning James Beattie performance.

The Southampton frontman had thrust himself firmly into the England spotlight with two superb goals to reinforce his position as the in-form striker in the Barclaycard Premiership.

That took his tally to 16 for the season - 15 in the league - and look set to end Middlesbrough's unbeaten home record.

But in the last 17 minutes, Noel Whelan's superb volley and Maccarone's penalty secured a point.

Even so, Beattie's display and form will make it impossible for Sven-Goran Eriksson to ignore the 24-year-old forward when he picks his side from next month's friendly against Australia.

Middlesbrough were ultimately fortunate to have survived after Southampton, prompted by Fabrice Fernandes' darting runs from midfield and probing left foot and with Beattie so imposing up front, had taken the game to them.

Gordon Strachan, hardly surprisingly, fielded the same line-up which thumped Tottenham 4-0 in the FA Cup and they started in the same fashion as Fernandes unleashed a fierce dipping shot from 25 yards which just cleared the crossbar.

Szilard Nemeth was inches away himself after a devilish twisting run into Saints' penalty area, his left-foot shot deflecting just past the post then Michael Svensson dropped a header straight into Mark Schwarzer's hands.

Fernandes threatened again, and this time struck the angle with another superb strike from distance. The ball rebounded straight to Jo Tessem six yards out, but he was as surprised as anyone and it bounced off him and out, missing an empty goal.

Nemeth blasted wide after another promising run - ignoring a simple pass which would have put Joseph-Desire Job in on goal - then Tony Vidmar volleyed Jonathan Greening's corner high over the bar.

Nemeth was looking sharp and Antti Niemi produced a stunning save to deny the Slovakian after Stuart Parnaby's low driven cross had set him up for a seemingly unmissable chance.

French midfielder Fernandes tried his third left-footed shot of the half from 25 yards, but this time curled it straight to Schwarzer.

Six minutes before the break Beattie struck his 15th goal of the season - and 14th in the Premiership - as Saints took the lead.

Beattie headed on Fernandes' inswinging ball to Chris Marsden on the far-post, and Middlesbrough were guilty of ball-watching as the striker waited what seemed an age for the return header to drop and then half-volleyed it crisply into the corner of the net.

With Boro's unbeaten home record under threat Steve McClaren made a change at half-time bringing on Whelan for Job.

Middlesbrough looked a different proposition immediately and Greening struck a low drive through a sea of players which was only kept out by Matt Oakley's outstretched boot.

Alen Boksic flashed a shot wide under pressure from Claus Lundekvam, then in the 15th minute Beattie fired Southampton 2-0 up.

Vidmar passed the ball straight to Beattie and the striker took one touch, looked up and then hammered a tremendous rising shot from 25 yards past Schwarzer. It was the goal of a striker playing with supreme confidence and at the top of his form.

As for Vidmar, the Australian who is hoping to clinch a new deal to stay at Middlesbrough for next season, he could only hang his head in shame.

With 17 minutes left Middlesbrough's two substitutes combined to get the Teessiders back into the match.

Maccarone flicked on a long pass out of defence and Whelan, from all of 35 yards, swung his boot at the ball and saw it soar towards goal and dip past the diving Niemi.

The home side's pressure paid off when Paul Telfer brought down Luke Wilkshire in the box and Maccarone converted the penalty for his first goal since September 28.

Brett Ormerod had a chance to grab Saints a winner when he wriggled free in the dying minutes, but he sliced over the bar.

Teams

Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Parnaby, Southgate, Vidmar, Queudrue, Geremi, Greening, Wilkshire, Job (Whelan 45), Nemeth (Murphy 70), Boksic (Maccarone 70).

Subs Not Used: Crossley, Cooper.

Goals: Whelan 73, Maccarone 82 pen.

Southampton: Niemi, Telfer, Lundekvam, Michael Svensson, Bridge, Fernandes, Delap, Oakley, Marsden, Beattie, Tessem (Ormerod 88).

Subs Not Used: Jones, Williams, Davies, Anders Svensson.

Booked: Marsden, Oakley.

Goals: Beattie 40, 60.

Att: 27,443

Ref: D Elleray (Middlesex).