Isaac Hayden and Ayoze Perez twice gave Newcastle the lead but Manolo Gabbiadini's double, the second a late penalty, ensure honours were shared in the Premier League encounter.

"My big disappointment was for the fans. It was a pity because we couldn't get three points so they could go back happy,'' he said.

"It was difficult but at least we got a point. We can be better and hopefully we will be better but we have to defend better.''

Southampton manager Mauricio Pellegrino criticised his team's defending for both Newcastle goals.

"We conceded a couple of, in my opinion, soft goals,'' he said.

But after equalising for a second time the Argentinian felt his players were in control.

"We were in our best moment [in the match],'' he said. "We could have won the game but also we could lose the game.

"We are conceding goals in every single game at home and we can do better.

"It is one point, it is not the best for us but in how we conceded the first and second goals the point is positive.''

Meanwhile, Southampton's Dusan Tadic said his side showed character to twice fight back and earn the draw.

Isaac Hayden and Ayoze Perez twice gave Newcastle the lead but Manolo Gabbiadini's double, the second a late penalty, ensure honours were shared in the Premier League encounter.

Tadic told Sky Sports Premier League: "We conceded the [second] goal but after that we showed character to come back.

"We showed character to come back but I think we can play much better.''

Gabbiadini admitted him scoring was secondary to Southampton's interests.

"I am very happy but I wanted to win the game,'' he said.

Asked about his late spot-kick leveller, the Italian said he was happy to earn his side a point.

"It was very important [the penalty] but for the team, not for me,'' he said.