City captain Matt Taylor powerfully headed home Scott Golbourne's corner four minutes into the second half to salvage a point after Adam Lallana had given the Saints a deserved half-time lead.
Saints could have been more than a goal up at the break but for some dogged Exeter defending, yet Pardew said: "The pitch conditions were really tough, we would like to have shown a bit more quality on it but I couldn't fault the players' endeavour and commitment.
"I just feel that we didn't do the basics well, the balls we were trying to turn and play in their half were going out of play and our set-plays were a bit disappointing.
"On a pitch like that you can't afford for it to happen, those little tiny things make a big difference.
"They put pressure on us in the second half and we had to keep changing things to try and create something.
"I'm disappointed that we got another draw but this is a tough place to come with conditions like that and with the commitment that they showed it was a tough afternoon. Normally this would be a decent result, but we need the wins."
Source: PA
Source: PA