Saints send Owls packing

Jasson Dodd scores a crucial penalty to book a fifth round place

Southampton 3-1 Sheffield Wednesday

Southampton completed a Sheffield double by knocking out Wednesday and securing a place in the FA Cup fifth round for the first time in five years.

Having knocked out the red and white half of the city, Sheffield United, with a Jason Dodd penalty in the third round, it was a case of deja vu.

Skipper Dodd crashed home the killer second goal from the spot to see off the blue and white team of Wednesday at The Dell.

You don't really start thinking about the final until the quarter-finals and for now we are just two rungs up the ladder

  Saints boss Glenn Hoddle

Kevin Davies had nodded Glenn Hoddle's men into a ninth-minute lead before Andy Booth headed an equaliser after 66 minutes.

Cruising

But Dodd restored the lead after 79 minutes after Booth turned from hero to villain by handling in the box, then James Beattie also used his head to put the icing on the cake with a third goal in injury time.

Saints appeared to be cruising thanks to Davies' well-taken opener. Mark Draper fed Beattie on the right flank and he sent a teasing low cross into the six-yard box.

Davies reached it first and saw his half-volley well saved by Kevin Pressman - but the Wednesday goalkeeper could only push the ball into the air, and burly striker Davies pounced to nod it into the net.

Southampton had gone almost eight hours without scoring a goal coming into this game, but Wednesday almost forced an equaliser after 18 minutes.

Impressive start

Aaron Lescott - whose pace was always a threat - made a good run down the right and delivered a low, teasing cross aimed at Booth. But a combination of Saints skipper Jason Dodd and Claus Lundekvam did well to crowd him out.

At 1-1 it was anybody's game but then we gave away a crazy penalty and were chasing the game

  Wednesday manager Paul Jewell

Southampton won a corner on the right after 33 minutes and Pahars picked out Dean Richards - but the big defender sent a looping header over the bar from 12 yards.

Saints built an attack of their own 10 minutes later and Pahars fed Davies on the edge of the box, but this time his shot from 18 yards was blocked by Pressman's legs.

Wednesday came out for the second half looking the more determined side and Saints goalkeeper Jones had to be alert in the first minute to save a snap-shot from Ian Hendon through a crowded area.

Costly error

They made more of an impression as they sensed that Saints were happy to sit back on their lead.

Wednesday were enjoying more possession and Alan Quinn made a good run down the left on the hour, but nobody was on hand to meet his deep cross and Richards brought the ball out of the box.

Pahars had a golden chance to settle the tie, but he let Wednesday off the hook after 62 minutes.

An error from Walker meant the ball fell to the Latvian striker on the six-yard line, but he side-footed it wide of Pressman's left post.

Hero to Villain

That proved costly as Wednesday were rewarded for their efforts with an equaliser after 65 minutes - only their fourth goal in eight games.

A long throw from Blatsis into the box saw the Saints defence freeze and Booth sent in a header which squeezed its way over the line.

Booth turned from hero to villain after 79 minutes when Wayne Bridge launched a free-kick into a crowded Wednesday box which struck him on the arm and the referee awarded the spot kick.

Up stepped Dodd to obligingly crash the 79th minute penalty into the top right corner

Saints were flattered a little when sub Jo Tessem unselfishly chipped the ball over Pressman and Beattie headed a third goal into the empty net.

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Southampton: Jones, Dodd, Lundekvam, Richards, Pahars, Oakley, Draper, Marsden, Bridge, Davies, Beattie.
Subs: Moss, Rosler, Tessem, Kachloul, Soltvedt.

Sheff Wed: Pressman, Haslam, Blatsis, Walker, Hendon, Harkness, Bromby, Quinn, Lescott, Sibon, Booth.
Subs: Hamshaw, Ekoku, Crane, Stringer, Morrison.

Referee: C Wilkes (Gloucester)