Mauricio Pellegrino is under fire from many of the club’s fans who sang “you’re getting sacked in the morning” after James McArthur and Luka Milivojevic scored to cancel out Long’s strike.

It leaves Saints just a point off the relegation zone whilst Palace climbed out of it.

Long had a chance to put them in front after just 15 seconds after a clever flick from Dusan Tadic. The Irishman fired high over the bar and his long goal drought seemed destined to continue.

On a boggy pitch, the opening minutes were littered with errors from both sides. The first clean strike on goal came from Saints’ Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, who forced Wayne Hennessey to tip his rising drive over the bar.

Saints had the impetus and took the lead when full-back Jeremy Pied found Long low across the six-yard box and he gratefully slammed the ball home. 

The game was stretched and Palace were finding plenty of room on the break. Andros Townsend forced Alex McCarthy to push his skidding 25-yard drive round the post.

2017 was a dismal year for Southampton at home and they had not tasted victory on their own patch since thrashing Everton at the end of November.

That never looked likely against the Eagles as conditions worsened after the break. 

Roy Hodgson’s side finally had a clear sight of goal when Christian Benteke spun on the edge of the area forcing a low stop from McCarthy.

That opportunity spurred the Eagles on to find an equaliser as their pressure told.

This time Benteke was the provider, knocking down Townsend’s deep cross for McArthur to volley home from close range.

Townsend was again the provider as Palace found a winner, scored brilliantly by Luka Milivojevic who swept home first time from the edge of the area.