Southampton 1-3 Brighton & Hove Albion
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Solly March's goal for Brighton early in the second half means Southampton have conceded nine goals in the first 15 minutes following the break
Nathan Jones said Southampton "wanted to be aggressive" against Brighton but instead they were booed off by their own supporters after a 3-1 defeat on his first Premier League home game in charge at St Mary's Stadium.
Saints now find themselves bottom of the top-flight table after Wolves grabbed a late winner against Everton to move above them.
Former Southampton captain Adam Lallana scored the opener and an own goal by left-back Romain Perraud heaped more misery on Jones' relegation-threatened side by the end of the first half.
Solly March then added a third for the Seagulls in the second half, thumping a shot into the top corner from 20 yards out that Saints goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu had no chance of saving.
A penalty was awarded to Southampton in the 73rd minute after Samuel Edozie ran into Pascal Gross inside the area, and while Sanchez saved James Ward-Prowse's initial effort, he could not keep out the headed rebound by the home skipper.
Jones conceded his side failed to take the fight to the visitors for large parts of the game.
"We've come here to change the aggression and change the dynamic to the football in terms of that but today we didn't," the Welshman said.
"We wanted to be aggressive, we wanted to press high but we didn't do the basics well enough and when they got near our goal - which at times was far too easy - conceded poor, poor goals. Goals that should never have gone in.
"If you don't defend the box well enough in the Premier League, you're going to struggle. We've only kept one clean sheet all season and that's something we have got to change."
Southampton had come into the game on the back of Tuesday's 2-1 win over Lincoln City in the Carabao Cup fourth round and they caused Brighton early problems when Moussa Djenepo's cross was diverted out before a Ward-Prowse corner was punched to safety by Seagulls goalkeeper Robert Sanchez.
The optimism faded, however, after Lallana found March out wide on the right and continued his run into the box, meeting the winger's cross and guiding his header past Bazunu in the 14th minute.
Southampton fell further behind when Pervis Estupinan sent a low ball across goal to create panic in the Saints defence. Perraud got there before March but the French defender could not adjust his feet and put the ball into his own net.
While Saints lie in 20th spot, Brighton are seventh in the table.
Brighton played a fantastic game - De Zerbi
Are Saints heading for relegation?
Nathan Jones took over at St Mary's in November following the sacking of Ralph Hasenhuttl and after losing his first game in charge against Liverpool before the World Cup break, the 49-year-old's task has become even more difficult with this defeat.
His side have now lost four consecutive games in the top flight and never looked like picking up a much-needed three points against Roberto de Zerbi's side.
Southampton did see chances for Mohamed Elyounoussi and Samuel Edozie, plus a Ward-Prowse free-kick, go close but now face a big challenge to survive this season.
For Brighton, the victory has brought cheer to the travelling fans following Wednesday's shock Carabao Cup penalty shootout exit at the hands of League One Charlton.
There were muted celebrations from Lallana after his opener but amazingly, it was just his second headed goal in the Premier League, with his other coming for Liverpool back in December 2016.
De Zerbi and Brighton will be watching events at Villa Park to see if they can finish Christmas off in style and hold on to that sixth spot.
'Crowd must give Jones a chance'
Saints boss Nathan Jones insists his side 'have to do basics better'
The fans voiced their disapproval at Southampton's performance at both half-time and full-time and ex-Saints defender Francis Benali questioned what effect the defeat would have on Jones' side.
"There were a lot of good things that Ralph Hasenhuttl brought to the club but it was probably right that the change was made," Benali told BBC Radio 5 Live.
"There were a few results and performances that just weren't going our way and I fully understood the timing of the change.
"It gave Nathan Jones and his team time to work with the squad during the World Cup break but from what we have seen here today he has got a lot of work to do.
"A defeat like this is going to be a crushing blow. What impact will it have on the players' confidence in the next games? We play Fulham next, then Nottingham Forest - and you need to take points against those around you in the table."
Former Saints striker Kevin Davies, working pitchside for Amazon Prime, urged patience from the supporters towards Jones.
"The crowd were restless but give him a chance," he said.
"He had to change things and tried to. There was some positives in the second half, but they need signings in January. He needs more."
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