Italian Gianluca Festa capped an incredible second half with a last-minute equaliser to rescue a point for nine-man 'Boro.

Steve Wilson: 'The second half had everything' (BBC 5 Live)

All six goals came after the break and referee Paul Alcock, the man at the centre of the Paolo Di Canio pushing incident, was led off the pitch by stewards at full-time as angry players tried to surround him.

The ill-feeling offered a marked contrast to the smile on Paul Gascoigne's face after he curled a superb free-kick into the net after 47 minutes to open the scoring.

Gascoigne picked up a yellow card for dissent but won his personal duel with the equally gifted Matt Le Tissier.

"I'd better not say too much as I'm still paying off the £2,000 fine from the last time I criticised a referee," said Middlesbrough manager Bryan Robson.

"But it's cost us, not just the points that we've dropped because of the decisions, but suspensions as well. There were ridiculous things going on out there."

Gascoigne is mobbed after putting 'Boro ahead

Both sides had chances in the opening 45 minutes with Southampton's Egil Ostenstad having a shot cleared off the line and Andy Townsend hitting a post for the visitors.

But 'Boro struck first when Ken Monkou was penalised for a foul on Hamilton Ricard and Gascoigne beat Welsh international goalkeeper Paul Jones from 20 yards.

"He was fantastic. It shows the work he's been putting in at the hospital and on the training pitch and everything is coming together for him," added Robson.

Monkou levelled by heading home Le Tissier's corner and Middlesbrough midfielder Robbie Mustoe was shown the red card two minutes later for a second bookable offence when he hauled Mark Hughes to the ground.

Despite the setback, Middlesbrough went in front again in the 66th minute when Claus Lundekvam headed another Gascoigne free-kick into his own net when he had plenty of time to clear.

Phil Stamp argues with referee Paul Alcock and receives a red card

Saints drew level eight minutes from time when sub James Beattie netted from close range and referee Alcock ignored 'Boro appeals for a foul on 'keeper Marlon Beresford.

Things went from bad to worse as Ostenstad ran onto Le Tissier's through ball to hammer Southampton in front and Phil Stamp followed Mustoe down the tunnel in the 88th minute.

But Middlesbrough were not finished and Festa punished Jones for failing to hold Townsend's cross by stooping to nod home.

Southampton: Jones, Hiley, Benali, Palmer, Monkou, Lundekvam,Ripley, Hughes, Ostenstad, Le Tissier, Bridge. Subs: Dodd, Kachloul, Beattie, Williams, Moss.

Middlesbrough: Beresford, Fleming, Gordon, Vickers, Festa, Cooper, Mustoe, Gascoigne, Townsend, Ricard, Deane. Subs: Beck, Stamp, Blackmore, Summerbell, Schwarzer.