ANDY Cole rescued a point for Rovers with an injury time equaliser to leave Southampton stunned at the St Mary's Stadium today.

Gordon Strachan's team had dominated this game from start to finish and appeared to be heading for three points against 10-man Rovers after James Beattie had fired the home side into a deserved first half lead.

However, as the game entered the 92nd minute Lucas Neill forced his way into the box and crossed for Cole who pounced to score from a yard out at the far post.

Before that, Rovers had played second fiddle as the Saints called all the shots in the opening 45 minutes.

All that pressure was rewarded when Beattie stepped up to fire the home side ahead from the penalty spot in the 38th minute after Anders Svensson had crumpled under a challenge from David Dunn in the box.

But if that decision was slightly debatable there was no doubt the Saints deserved to be in front at half time after mounting a seige on the visitors' goal.

Brad Friedel had already made saves from Fabrice Fernandes, Svensson and Brett Ormerod before referee Alan Wiley pointed to the spot.

In contrast, all Rovers could muster was a Cole shot which was comfortably held by Antti Niemi and a David Thompson effort which flashed a yard over the bar.

After the break, Southampton continued to dominate as Friedel made outstanding stops from Svensson and Chris Marsden in the space of 10 seconds.

Then Tugay saw red for a second bookable offence with quarter of an hour remaining and that appeared to kill Rovers hopes once and for all.

However, Cole then had the last laugh as he poached his second goal of the season in dramatic style.

FA BARCLAYCARD PREMIERSHIP: FULL-TIME: SOUTHAMPTON 1 BLACKBURN ROVERS 1, St Mary's Stadium, November 9, 2002

ROVERS: Friedel, Neill, Short, Taylor, Curtis, Dunn, Tugay, Gillespie, Thompson, Cole, Yorke. Subs: Kelly, Jansen, Grabbi, Ostenstad, Todd

SOUTHAMPTON: Niemi, Bridge, M Svensson, Lundkevam, Dodd, Marsden, Oakley, A Svensson, Fernades, Beattie, Ormerod. Subs: Jones, Telfer, Delap, Delgardo, Pahars

Referee: A Wiley