Pochettino suffers double injury blow as Ramirez and Lovren both carried off... but Brown goes UNPUNISHED for horror tackle

By TOM SHEEN

Published: 10:22 EST, 18 January 2014 | Updated: 12:50 EST, 18 January 2014

Mauricio Pochettino was left cursing his luck as he saw two players injured within seconds of each other during the 2-2 draw at Sunderland.

Gaston Ramirez was on the end of a strong tackle from Wes Brown but referee Chris Foy failed to even give a free-kick, with the defender appearing to nick the ball first.

As Sunderland broke down the other end centre back Dejan Lovren, who had earlier scored Southampton's second, then injured himself attempting to tackle Adam Johnson.

VIDEO Scroll down to watch post-match reaction from Pochettino

Horror: Wes Brown went unpunished for this tackle on Gaston Ramirez - no free kick was given and the Southampton player had to be carried off on a stretcher

Injury problems: Dejan Lovren then hurt himself at the other end as he attempted to tackle Adam Johnson

The extent of both injuries are so far unclear, but with the two players needing extensive treatment on the pitch and being carried off on stretchers, the Argentine manager will fear for his thin squad.

Ramirez had entered the match as a substitute and lasted only 12 minutes before the tackle - a total of seven minutes of injury time was added because of treatment.

Because Foy saw the tackle, Brown will not face any retrospective punishment for his challenge.

Southampton had lead 2-0 and appeared to be cruising towards three points before Fabio Borini and then Adam Johnson scored for the home side.

No free kick: Chris Foy thought Wes Brown got the ball first so no free kick, or booking, was given

Cameo appearance: Ramirez had come on as a sub but only lasted 12 minutes

Southampton midfielder Jack Cork revealed Pochettino has reassured the players he is committed to the club in the wake of the departure of executive chairman Nicola Cortese.

Saints threw away a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 at Sunderland in their first game since Cortese's sudden departure, which has led to speculation over the future of Pochettino and a number of their highly-rated young players.

But Cork told BT Sport: 'The gaffer is brilliant. He came in and said to us the day after, "I'm fully behind you, I'm sticking with you". It gives us a lot of confidence.'

Fight back: Adam Johnson's goal saw Sunderland fight back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2

Cork admitted Southampton should not have let the three points slip through their grasp at the Stadium of Light.

'The first half we played really well, the second half they were always going to come out and press us,' he said.

'We should have got some more for it, but fair play to them as well.'

Two points lost: Mauricio Pochettino was disappointed with the draw and with the injuries

On the injuries to Ramirez and Lovren, Cork said: 'We've got the next league game in two weeks, let's hope they are all right for then.'

Speaking after the game, Pochettino said: 'I am quite disappointed with a point. I think we actually deserved to win the game, but in the end we leave with one point and two injuries.

'You could see that they were in a lot of pain. I saw them before going to hospital and both of them were in a lot of pain.'