José Fonte felt that Saints displayed the sort of determination that will stand them in good stead for the rest of the season at Brighton.
The defender conceded that the team weren't at their best early on at the Withdean, but they battled back well to earn a point which could be crucial at the campaign's end.
"I think we showed great character to get the equaliser," he highlighted. "If the game had ten more minutes we would have won it for sure because this team has a great spirit and you could see that.
"We had a poor start, after 15 minutes we gave it away, then we got the equaliser and we were on top of the game, and again in the second half we were on top but then they get a great goal. It was a great cross, a great delivery and a great goal but never the less we kept fighting. We showed great character in the end, and it might be a point won."
Fonte held his hands up that Albion's second goal came from the top drawer, but was pleased that the team didn't let it affect them.
"We couldn't do anything, with his pace and then that cross curling like that, it was an unbelievable cross and a great finish. Sometimes you can't do anything as a defender, you just have to give credit to the striker and the winger. The important thing is the reaction in my opinion, we reacted, we showed character and showed that we want to get there. I think it is a point that we won here and it may be important come the end of the season.
"I think Colchester mainly will be looking at it as a good result for them, but we are after them," José affirmed. "We are chasing them and we still believe we can catch them. We want to go until the end and then in the end we will see.
"We are going for them and for Huddersfield as well, so we have to keep believing and keep working and that is what we have been doing."
Saints now have two crunch home games to look forward to next week, and the giant Portugese centre half hopes that the supporters will help the team back to wining ways.
"I just hope that the fans come to the stadium and we get 30,000 in the stadium because we need their support. They are really important for us, we need them to get behind us and we want to try and give them what they want. It get's us going, definitely, when we see the stadium full it is the best thing you can give to the players, that atmosphere, and I hope the stadium is packed on Monday.
"They (Leyton Orient) are fighting for their lives, and we are going to fight for our targets as well so it is going to be a massive game for us and we just have to put the performance in.
"It is hard for them when they are struggling to get points like they are now. In the last six or seven games they haven't been able to get a win and that affects you, you get it in the back of your mind and you start thinking about it and then things don't come to you. We have nothing to lose and we just have to go for the win."
