Nottingham Forest skipper Steve Chettle converted from the penalty spot to earn his team a point, but they remain bottom of the Premiership as the New Year approaches.

BBC Radio 5 Live's Andrew James reports from the City Ground

Recent Saints signing Hassan Kachloul had given the visitors the lead after 48 minutes, but Chettle's equaliser followed within six minutes, and neither team benefited from the result.

The visitors started brightly, feeling no side-effects from the defeat at home to Chelsea on Saturday.

Forest found it hard to deal with young striker James Beattie, and he created good chances for Matthew Oakley and Egil Ostenstad, but both times the ball ended up in the hands of goalkeeper Dave Beasant.

Both goalkeepers were busy towards the end of the first half, with Paul Jones making important saves from Andy Johnson and Neil Shipperley. At the other end, Beasant prevented Ostenstad and Kachloul from giving Southampton a half time lead.

But the Saints only had to wait three minutes after the interval before taking the lead.

Kachloul: Unmarked for his headed goal

Matthew Oakley received the ball from a corner, and his cross found Kachloul, unmarked in the penalty area. The Moroccan glanced his header past Beasant.

But the Saints' deserved lead was shortlived. Dougie Freedman found himself one-on-one with Jones, who brought the former Wolves striker down inside the box.

Jones was given a yellow card, when many believed that he should have been given his marching orders. Regardless, he had no chance of stopping Chettle's penalty - his second strike from the spot in ten days.

The two quick goals livened up the contest, but the quality of the match was indicative of the contestants - both teams seem destined to struggle to avoid the dreaded drop.

Nott'm Forest: Beasant, Rogers, Chettle, Hjelde, Stone, Gemmill, Shipperley, Johnson, Bart-Williams, Freedman, Bonalair. Subs: Louis-Jean, Crossley, Armstrong, Gray, Harewood.

Southampton: Jones, Hiley, Dodd, Oakley, Palmer, Monkou, Kachloul, Colleter, Beattie, Ostenstad, Lundekvam. Subs: Stensgaard, Bridge, Monk, Dryden, Basham.