Paolo Di Canio looked as frustrated as anyone at the end of the match, but the finger of blame must rest with the players.
At the end of the day, this is Martin O'Neill's team - and Di Canio can only tweek what he has to work with.
Gary Rowell (talking to the Echo): "What a disappointing result and performance that was against Southampton on Sunday – we were second best all over the pitch and we were fortunate to get a draw.
"I know in the grand scheme of things that point could turn out to be so important to us, but we make things far more complicated for ourselves than we need to.
"And the annoying thing is that having wasted a chance at the Stadium of Light with Stoke’s visit last Monday, we did exactly the same against Southampton.
"From the very start, we never got going – we lacked shape and balance across the middle of the park and Southampton looked a yard quicker and sharper.
"There were few positives to take – Bardsley’s goal was the only thing the fans had to shout about, and maybe the performances of Simon Mignolet and Danny Rose.
"Everyone else I felt was under par and as a team we looked lethargic and lacked any sort of creative spark."