Middlesbrough had experienced defender Gianluca Festa sent off midway through the second half as both sides failed to find the win that would move them clearer of the FA Barclaycard Premiership relegation zone at St Mary's

Festa was given a straight red card by Sheffield referee Uriah Rennie after he lost possession in the 59th minute as the last man in defence to Chris Marsden.

The Italian hauled backed the Southampton midfielder and knew his fate immediately, with Rennie producing a red card.

But Boro held on comfortably for a draw after Anders Svensson had given Southampton the lead in the 38th minute.

Noel Whelan equalised in the 56th minute, the only one of several clear chances Middlesbrough accepted to earn a deserved draw.

The Teessiders carved out several clear openings but Whelan's clinical finish from a superb pass by Benito Carbone was poor reward for the spurned opportunities.

Middlesbrough found Southampton striker Brett Ormerod - making his full home debut - a difficult man to subdue and his first minute shot across the face of the goal was a warning of things to come.

But it was Middlesbrough who always looked dangerous on the break and 20-year-old Australian Luke Wilkshire, making his debut, came within inches of marking his first appearance with a goal in the ninth minute.

Jonathan Greening deceived the Southampton defence with a centre from the left leaving Wilkshire with only goalkeeper Paul Jones to beat but at full stretch the young Aussie just failed to get a touch.

England newcomer Wayne Bridge sent in a screaming 20-yard shot which Mark Schwarzer held only at the second attempt but then again at the other end Middlesbrough were guilty of another blunder in front of goal.

Carbone took a corner on the right and Festa, unmarked from 10 yards, could only watch in dismay as a shot bobbled off his knee a yard wide.

Alen Boksic was the next Middlesbrough player to waste a chance in the 32nd minute when he turned sharply in the area on to his left foot but then wastefully blazed over the bar from 10 yards.

Boro were made to pay for the profligacy in the 38th minute when Saints took the lead with the eager Ormerod heavily involved.

The former Blackpool striker got away from Ugo Ehiogu to pull the ball back for Svensson to shoot home from close range for his third league goal of the season.

Ormerod was gifted a shooting chance in the 49th minute by another Ehiogu blunder but with time and space available he snatched at a left foot shot and the ball rebounded to safety.

The visitors should have equalised in the 52nd minute when Svensson and Paul Williams were guilty of some hesitancy in defence for Carbone to leave Boksic a clear shooting chance from 15 yards - but the normally lethal striker put his effort a foot wide when it looked easier to score.

Just when it seems Boro would never score Carbone floated a perfect pass over the head of defender Paul Telfer and Whelan side-footed a simple equaliser.

Almost immediately Festa was sent off and Southampton enjoyed plenty of possession over the last 30 minutes, particularly when leading scorer Marian Pahars replaced Svensson in the 67th minute.

Pahars set-up one clear heading opportunity which Rory Delap fluffed from six yards and then in injury time cutting from the right to unleash a goalbound left-foot shot which Schwarzer pushed away to safety at full stretch.

Teams

Southampton: Jones, Telfer, Bridge, Lundekvam, Williams, Oakley, Marsden, Svensson (Pahars 67), Delap, Ormerod, Davies.

Subs Not Used: Moss, Monk, Tessem, Fernandes.

Booked: Lundekvam.

Goals: Svensson 38.

Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Festa, Queudrue, Southgate, Ehiogu, Greening, Mustoe, Wilkshire, Whelan, Boksic (Stockdale 62), Carbone.

Subs Not Used: Crossley, Nemeth, Windass, Debeve.

Sent Off: Festa (61).

Booked: Queudrue.

Goals: Whelan 57.

Att: 28,931

Ref: U Rennie (Sheffield).