Tranmere hold Saints

Beattie was left frustrated by Tranmere's defence

Southampton 0-0 Tranmere Rovers

Tranmere Rovers made a mockery of their lowly league status to earn a hard fought FA Cup draw against Southampton at The Dell.

John Aldridge's side - bottom of the First Division - saw off the challenge of neighbours Everton at Goodison Park in the fourth round.

And their liking for cup combat surfaced again as they produced a battling performance to set up a replay at Prenton Park.

Glenn Hoddle will wonder how Southampton squandered the supremacy they enjoyed in possession, but Tranmere may also rue two missed opportunities by youngster Andy Parkinson.

We knew we had to stop them because they have got real quality, but we nullified them

  Tranmere Rovers manager John Aldridge

Southampton had the ball in Tranmere's net three times, but each time it was ruled out and The Dell was left frustrated.

Tranmere will be happier with the result and will be confident of earning a quarter-final place with a replay on home territory.

Southampton dominated the first half - but Tranmere more than held their own and created opportunities to add to their long list of high-profile cup victims.

Latvian Marian Pahars was Southampton's main attacking threat early on, and three times in the opening 20 minutes he engineered opportunities for Hassan Kachloul.

The Moroccan international twice failed to make a proper connection with headers.

Kachloul was then on target after Tranmere keeper John Achterberg could only push out Pahars' shot, but referee Steve Dunn ruled out the goal for offside.

Southampton defender Dean Richards also had an earlier header ruled out for offside.

Yates - timely tackle

Tranmere suffered an early blow when defender Clint Hill was replaced by Dave Challinor after suffering a knee injury, but the first division strugglers still performed with commendable resilience.

Striker Parkinson should have given Tranmere the lead after 25 minutes when his pace took him clear of the Southampton defence, but goalkeeper Paul Jones save brilliantly.

And the former Liverpool youth team player was denied again on the stroke of half time when he took advantage of a rare slip by Dean Richards, but Claus Lundekvam produced a brilliant saving tackle.

Danger man Pahars

Saints danger man James Beattie was kept at arm's length, and when he did finally get an opportunity he was halted by a timely interception from Tranmere's Steve Yates.

Southampton were forced to make a change after 65 minutes when midfield man Matt Oakley was stretchered off, with Tahar El Khalej coming on as substitute.

Southampton were turning up the heat, and almost broke the deadlock twice in the space of a minute.

Kachloul was blocked by a brilliant Richard Jobson tackle as he looked poised to score from six yards, and then Beattie headed wide from even closer after El Khalej's driven cross.

Too many of our players were worth only five or six out of ten and under those circumstances you normally lose

  Southampton manager Glenn Hoddle

Hoddle made a change with 12 minutes to go in an attempt to end the stalemate, sending on veteran German striker Uwe Rosler for the tiring Kachloul.

Pahars had been quiet after his opening burst, but forced a spectacular diving save at the near post from Achterberg as Southampton pushed for the winner.

Southampton had the ball in the net in injury time when Wayne Bridge's free kick flew in, but again they were disappointed as the goal was disallowed for a foul by Rosler on Achterberg.

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Southampton: Jones, Dodd, Lundekvam, Richards, Bridge, Oakley, Draper, Tessem, Kachloul, Pahars, Beattie. Subs: Moss, Marsden, Rosler, El Khalej, Bleidelis.

Tranmere: Achterberg, Yates, Hinds, Jobson, Allen, Hill, Flynn, Koumas, Hamilton, Parkinson, Rideout. Subs: Murphy, Allison, Henry, Challinor, Barlow.

Referee: S Dunn (Bristol)