SOUTHAMPTON just about hung on to their self-esteem last night at the Manor Ground, but they did little to restore their confidence. In the last minute Oxford, who created more and better chances throughout, scored a deserved equaliser when Moody lashed the ball past Woods.

Moody was a substitute for the main culprit Aldridge for the last half-hour. In that time Purse and Mike Ford both scraped the bar with headers from crosses by Beauchamp. An equaliser was no less than just. Oxford matched Southampton in all but Berkovic.

Denis Smith, Oxford's manager, felt beforehand: "It was a good time to be meeting Southampton", who had slipped from the sublime (6-3 against Manchester Utd) to the ridiculous (1-7 v Everton) and then home defeat by Leeds on Saturday. His instincts could have been proved right if Aldridge had kept his bearings in the first quarter hour.

First Angel, allowed advantage despite van Gobbel's foul, pulled back from the by-line. Aldridge's shot cleared the stand. Then Beaucbamp from the other side, found him six yards out with Woods exposed on his line. Aldridge's header was an impressive clearance. Next an error by Dryden let in Jemson, who rounded Woods and dribbled for 10 seconds manoeuvring in vain for a shot through the backtracking defenders.

For the first time this season Southampton started without Le Tissier, injured on Saturday. In effect, his presence has been more talismanic than practical anyway. His absence proved no more inspirational, though Berkovic strove to steady the frenetic pace in midfield and thread passes through Oxford's solid defence. Then, midway through the first half, after good work by Berkovic had come to nothing, that same defence stood off as Dryden regained possession fiddled the ball on to his left foot and shot gloriously from 25 yards into the top corner.

Aldridge had another chance to justify his manager's optimism on the resumption. Van Gobbel, a constant liability with his loose control and ambitious dribbling in defence, let in Aldridge for a run on Woods. The goalkeeper was rounded, the open goal was missed. On the hour, Aldridge capped that by blocking a goal-bound drive by his teammate, Beauchamp. Smith could hardly wait to replace him by Moody.