Saints fully deserved the FA Cup 3rd round win over Leicester City. Saints dominated the first half and were the better team in the second half.
Saints made changes to the team, which saw loan players not play because of the parent clubs not being able to play that player in the FA Cup later on due to the Cup tied rule. Andrew Davies’ loan has expired but should be extended or brought within the next week.
Saints had the much the better of the early stages and should have been awarded 2 penalty kicks, Rasiak was pulled down inside the area but D’Urso wasn’t interested and Bradley Wright-Phillips was challenged from behind, it was a blatant penalty as you can’t come from behind take the player and then the ball, again D’Urso made the wrong call.
But saints did take the lead on 15 minutes, Euell managed to poke the ball through and SURMAN scored with a sweet left foot strike from 18 yards which beat the keeper!
Rasiak had a header on the 30 minute mark which Kisnorbo cleared.
Saints got the second which they deserved, Saints had a free kick from 45 yards out which was floated in by VIGNAL which beat the keeper and bounced into the net, it may of taken a touch from Stearmen but replays are unclear, the goal should be given to Vignal though.
Euell hit the cross bar just before the break
HALF TIME SOUTHAMPTON 2 LEICESTER CITY 0
Leicester made 2 subs to stop a saints riot. Holloway had to steady the ship in the second half before saints scored 4 or maybe 5.
Among many half chances Rasiak had the best chance, he showed a real preditors instinct by leaping higher from a Surman corner, it looked to be in before Hednersen made a good clearence off the line to deny saints a 3rd which in truth the home side deserved.
Hayles had a shot from 10 yards in the last few minutes which hit the support bar behind the goal, much to the amusement to the fans in the Northam Stand.
McGoldrick came on in the dying few minutes as he returns from Loan at Port Vale.
Saints should have had more but are in the draw on Monday Luch time.
FULL TIME SOUTHAMPTON 2 LEICESTER 0
Player Ratings
Kelvin Davis 7
Had little to do in the saints goal.
Jermaine Wright 8
Looked comfortable at right back for saints.
Wayne Thomas 7
Looked good at the back, delt with Howard well
Darren Powell 7
Another step up in his road to fitness after injury.
Gregory Vignal 9
Stood out, didn’t do anything wrong and overlapped well. His best game for saints!
Adam Hammill 7
Played well as times, got the byline and crossed the ball, but looked a tad unfit and faded out of the game after an hour.
Youseff Safri 7
Passed the ball well, signed off with an averag performance by his standard, he will head to the African Cup of Nations with a smile as wide as Southampton.
Jason Euell 7
Was poor in large periods of the game but did set up surman for his goal!
Andrew Surman 8
His fine strike after 15 minutes gave saints the early advantage and put us o the first step on the long road to Wembley.
Grzegorz Rasiak 7.5
He was one of the better players on the pitch, looked good in the air just couldn’t get the goal he deserved
Bradley Wright-Phillips 7
Pulled out wide and made some gaps at times, should have had a penalty. He didn’t made too much of an impact.
Dave McGoldrick —
Came on with 5 minutes left and didn’t have a chance to make an impact.