SAINTS midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu struck deep into added time to earn his side a Premier League point in a 1-1 draw at West Ham United. 

Saints made it to half time level at 0-0 but talisman Jarrod Bowen was afforded too much time and space to shoot and score right after the break.

Kamaldeen Sulemana hit the crossbar in the first half, while substitute Tyler Dibling blazed over with his side's best chance in the closing stages.

However, three minutes into the five added on, Chelsea loanee Ugochukwu rifled a volley past Alphonse Areola to rescue interim Simon Rusk a point. 

Relegated Saints are only playing for pride but this result means they have matched Derby County's record lowest points tally of 11 with five games to spare.

The Saints fans continued to be the club's best performer this season, outnumbered but outsinging the hosts once again despite relegation. 

A win would have taken Saints up to 13 and clear of the record altogether, but they had only beaten West Ham once in their previous 12 league attempts.

The London side came into the match 17th in the table and had not been that low down at this stage of the season since they finished bottom in 2011.

The Graham Potter era is still in its infancy but only Saints and Leicester had been as shot-shy as his struggling charges since his appointment in January. 

Meanwhile, Rusk made only a single change from the 3-0 defeat to Aston Villa last time out, with Flynn Downes back from suspension to face his boyhood side.

There was a Premier League debut for one person on the field; referee Andrew Kitchen had only overseen Championship fixtures previously. 

Aaron Ramsdale prevented him from having to call a goal just three minutes in, with a sharp reflex save to beat away Niclas Fullkrug's effort. 

West Ham tried to sign Kyle Walker-Peters last summer and will likely revisit the deal next month when he departs St Mary's on a free transfer.

He nearly put Saints ahead in the first half at London Stadium, pulling just wide of the far post, before Kamaldeen hit the bar with a snapshot.

The teams went into the break level - all three league matches under Rusk so far this season had been 0-0 at half-time - but that scoreline would not last.

Less than two minutes into the second period, a Hammers counter saw Bowen fed the ball on the right, where he was allowed to cut in and sweep home.

Ramsdale was offered a much-needed reprieve when he dropped a James Ward-Prowse corner into the back of the net, as referee Kitchen penalised Fullkrug.

VAR quickly confirmed that the German striker fouled as he climbed the back of the England goalkeeper, keeping Saints just a goal behind.

The sides traded blows as full-time approached; Stephens had a powerful effort saved by Areola before Ramsdale denied Fullkrug up the other end.

Substitute Dibling fired over with what looked like the crucial final chance, after he was found free inside the box by a Taylor Harwood-Bellis header.

However, brilliant footwork from Walker-Peters in added time earned him the chance to cross and the ball was deflected into Ugochukwu's path to strike home. 

West Ham: Areola; Coufal, Todibo, Kilman, Emerson (Scarles, 79); Soler, Ward-Prowse (Mavropanos, 85), Bowen (Ferguson, 85), Paqueta, Kudus (Guilherme, 75); Fullkrug (Soucek, 79).

Unused subs: Fabianski, Cresswell, Rodriguez, Irving.

Booked: Coufal, Kilman.

Saints: Ramsdale; Walker-Peters, Harwood-Bellis (Stewart, 85), Bednarek, Stephens, Manning (Welington, 85); Downes, Ugochukwu, Fernandes; Kamaldeen (Dibling, 73), Onuachu (Archer, 68).

Unused subs: McCarthy, Aribo, Bree, Smallbone, Wood.

Booked: Onuachu.

Referee: Andrew Kitchen.

VAR: Stuart Attwell.