LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Wayne Rooney came to Ronald Koeman’s rescue as the Everton striker’s last-gasp penalty salvaged a 1-1 draw at Brighton, while Manolo Gabbiadini’s brace gave Southampton a 2-2 draw against Newcastle yesterday.

Everton boss Koeman was on the brink of another damaging defeat after Anthony Knockaert put Brighton ahead eight minutes from full-time at the Amex Stadium.

But Brighton captain Bruno was penalised for fouling Dominic Calvert-Lewin in stoppage time and Rooney stepped up to score the crucial equaliser.

“We are in a difficult situation but it’s one thing to come out of this and show fight like we did today,” Koeman said.

While Koeman will be relieved to avoid a fifth defeat in Everton’s last six Premier League games, the Toffees once again looked poor for long periods and remain without an away win since January.

At St Mary’s, Southampton were heading for a third- straight league defeat when Isaac Hayden and Ayoze Perez put Newcastle ahead in each half.

But Gabbiadini hit back twice to celebrate his first start in more than a month.

“It was a chaotic game. We conceded a couple of soft goals. In the last 20 minutes we could win the game but we could also lose it,” Southampton manager Mauricio Pellegrino said.

Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez added: “I have to be happy because we have drawn, at the same time disappointed because we could have won.”

Pellegrino played under Benitez at both Valencia and Liverpool, then later joined the Spaniard’s coaching staff at Anfield.