Shane Long’s 19th minute goal was enough to see Southampton to a 1-0 FA Cup third round replay over the Blues at Portman Road. Town never looked like getting back into the game against an impressive Saints outfit, who now face Crystal Palace at home in round four.

Town keeper Bartosz Bialkowski started against his old club with Dean Gerken, who played in the first tie, having picked up an injury. Third-choice Michael Crowe was on the bench.

There was no place in the 18 for the apparently exiting Conor Sammon and with Noel Hunt ineligible having not been at the club for the first game, first-year pro Darren McQueen was amongst the subs.

Ill trio Teddy Bishop, Jay Tabb and Cole Skuse missed out, while Tyrone Mings dropped to the bench having tweeted that he was under the weather earlier in the week with Jonny Parr returning at left-back.

Southampton, who started in a 3-5-2 formation against the Blues’ regular 4-4-2, made five changes from the team which beat Manchester United 1-0 at Old Trafford on Sunday with Morgan Schneiderlin, who scored in the 1-1 draw with Town at St Mary’s, missing out due to a knock. Ex-Blues keeper Kelvin Davis was on the bench.

In front of an almost capacity crowd Town started on the front foot, Kevin Bru, alongside Luke Hyam in the centre of midfield, turning an early ball into the area but too far in front of ex-Saint David McGoldrick, as usual up front alongside Daryl Murphy. On five, Darren Ambrose, Town’s scorer at St Mary’s, lashed well over from distance.

A minute later Town had the ball in the net but with a linesman’s flag having been raised. Bru played a clever pass into the path of Stephen Hunt, who beat Fraser Forster but having strayed offside, only just according to replays.

Soon after, Victor Wanyama was first to a poor Bialkowski clearance but looped his effort at goal well over.

Neither side threatened again, although with the Blues having had the upper hand, until the 19th minute when the Saints went in front via their first serious chance of the match.

Nathaniel Clyne played a ball to Dusan Tadic’s feet, the Serbian flicking it into the path of James Ward-Prowse, who broke into the area. Blues skipper Luke Chambers slid in to dispossess the England U21 international but the ball fell to Long on the right of the area and the Irishman hit a first-time shot past Bialkowski and into the net.

Town, who were unfortunate to find themselves behind on the overall balance of the game, looked to get straight back into it but McGoldrick shot high and wide from the edge of the box.

The Blues number 10 broke forward promisingly on 25 but took too long over a ball to Murphy and his pass was intercepted.

A minute later, Ward-Prowse struck a 25-year effort which caught a Town player on its way only just over the bar. From the resultant corner, Bru and Hunt broke, the Mauritian international eventually just failing to find Ambrose. Murphy had suffered a head injury as Town defended the corner and after treatment required a bandage and a change of shirt.

There was a scare for the Blues on 33 when Parr over-hit a back-pass to Bialkowski, the keeper needing to take a touch before clearing. Goalscorer Long blocked and was first to the looping ball but Chambers and then Bru cleared his cross into the box.

McGoldrick won a freekick 30 yards out on 37 but hit his strike into the wall and out for a corner. From the flag-kick the Blues claimed the ball had struck Jose Fonte’s hand but referee Graham Scott wasn’t interested.

Moments later, Bialkowski needed to come off his line quickly to clear ahead of Long after Chambers had under-hit a back-pass, the Pole’s kick striking the Irishman in the midriff and falling safely.

As the half moved into injury time, Tadic cut into the area from the right but was thwarted by Tommy Smith’s block.

McGoldrick had a chance to put his side on terms deep into injury time having been fed on the right of the area by Murphy. The Blues striker should have sent a ball across the six-yard box but instead, perhaps trying too hard to score against his old club, screwed a shot well wide from a tight angle.

Seconds before the whistle, Wanyama went down with what looked like a hamstring problem and seemed unlikely to return for the second half.

While the Blues had started brightly and perhaps unfortunate that Hunt was a whisker offside, once they’d gone in front the Saints had been well in control, looking every bit a side from a higher division and the likelier scorers of the next goal with Town making more than a couple of uncharacteristic unforced errors.

Aside from set pieces, McGoldrick’s opportunity towards the end of the half was probably the Blues’ best chance get back on terms but the Town frontman’s decision to shoot was the wrong one.

As expected Wanyama failed to appear after the restart with Steven Davis replacing him in the Southampton midfield.

The Saints began the second half on top but without causing Bialkowski too many problems.

On 55 Town boss Mick McCarthy swapped one-time Saints academy schoolboy Tyrone Mings for Hunt and switched to a 3-5-2 formation with Mings at left wing-back, Parr on the right and Berra, Smith and Chambers in the centre.

Mings’s introduction almost immediately paid dividends. The 21-year-old crossed from the left and Ambrose headed goalwards but too close to Forster.

On 63 Balint Bajner replaced McGoldrick, who looked to have suffered a knock moments beforehand, the Hungarian making his first appearance since October. McGoldrick had had a rather frustrating game against his old side.

As the match moved into its final 15 minutes the Blues started to show some signs of putting the Saints, who up then had seen out the half with ease, under pressure, Bru hitting a shot from 25 yards over. Cameron Stewart replaced Ambrose for the final seven minutes.

But Town’s big finish never came and the Blues’ FA Cup run came to an end at the third round stage for the fifth year running and they are still to win a cup tie under Mick McCarthy’s management.

In the end if was a comfortable night for Southampton, who having gone in front controlled the game professionally and confidently and competently and never seemed in any danger of letting their lead slip.

For all their usual effort and endeavour, the Blues were never able to lay a glove on the Premier League's third-placed side.

Town now have a free weekend following the away games at Millwall - who lost 4-0 at Bradford in the FA Cup this evening - on Saturday and Brighton next Wednesday.

Town: Bialkowski, Chambers (c), Parr, Berra, Smith, Hyam, Bru, Ambrose (Stewart 83), S Hunt (Mings 55), Murphy, McGoldrick (Bajner 63). Unused: Crowe, Clarke, Anderson, McQueen.

Southampton: Forster, Clyne, Fonte (c), Gardos, Targett, Wanyama (S Davis 46), Reed, Ward-Prowse, Tadic (Pelle 66), Bertrand, Long. Unused: K Davis, Cork, Isgrove, McCarthy, Hesketh. Referee: Graham Scott (Oxfordshire). Att: 27,933 (Southampton: 1,126).

Photo: Action Images

karls_dad added 22:27 - Jan 14 Hyam was terrible tonite, i cringed everytime he went near the ball, an accident waiting to happen, On a brighter note.... Bart really did not have to make a save tonite, not once was he really tested, so the Saints were not that good then? It does prove that the squad is too thin when we look at who we had to actually play tonite, we desperatly need some more bodies in, especially up front!

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TimmyH added 22:27 - Jan 14 An impressive Saints outfit? - really? personally I felt they hardly had to get out of first gear and did what they needed to do. As for ourselves as per the Derby game it really shows our limitations particularly in midfield, no play maker and feel we need more than Teddy Bishop in this roll...we could have played all night and still not have scored. Disappointing to yet again to be in another scrappy game in front of the cameras, can't remember too many games this season that have had me on the edge of my seat other than the Wigan game. Time not to panic but important we keep our heads up and get back to business as we have been doing by and large this season, hopefully MM will report to ME about what we lack in the squad and that is at least a creative midfielder and a striker who can disrupt defenses and score a few. But must improve on these last 2 games. COYB!

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adeblueboy added 22:28 - Jan 14 I am afraid we need to play parr at right back, sorry chambers and I hope ham does not play for a while. He has been awful lately. Skies back in and get Williams pleeeeease.
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Norwichbeater added 22:29 - Jan 14 Chambers hyam and mcgoldrick all very poor tonight also. You can't have 3 very poor player performances against a premiership team and expect to get a result.
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adeblueboy added 22:30 - Jan 14 Spelling awful!! Hyam and skuse.
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bellazzurri79 added 22:37 - Jan 14 That was a f****** waste of time and ever since after am rise scored the goal in the game at St Mary's we have been outplayed in our last three matches and i don't think Murphy has had one clear cut chance in all 3? I'm afraid our midfield is has been found out and we haven't been able to adapt ... Kevin bru was outstanding in a poor team today, and I must make one thing clear... When Chambers, Berra and Smith are the three players who have most of our possession in games that spells trouble .... Mings was very good when he came on ... Worrying about Millwall as confidence will be low in the camp no matter what is said to the media...

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yorksblue added 22:37 - Jan 14 Millwall players and staff taking leaf out of fans book by kicking the cr*p out of everyone in sight. Hopefully a few bans before Saturday
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HackneyBlue added 22:38 - Jan 14 Dear o dear o dear what a poor game,Hyam,chambers and smith should be made to watch that game again just like the poor nation had to .hyam 2 games 2 shockers,mick please watch the game again it will make u cringe.not 1 positive-how can we have dropped so badly so quick.Please move chambers out from the hell he is having at right back.
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westernblue added 22:40 - Jan 14 On reflection, with the lack of comfort on the ball in midfield we needed in this game to really go for it with high energy and pressure - which the lads on the pitch were unable to do. Still S'ton are a very good team after all. Thinking of the rest of the season we can only make promotion or anything like with, again, some midfield vision and control. Hyam was disappointing, but mainly as a defensive linking midfielder for not taking the ball off the centre backs, not because he lacks craft. Overall, the team has done wonders this season, but the inability to get the ever willing Murphy involved is really worrying.

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paulthebluealien added 22:43 - Jan 14 People who are questioning the commitment clearly didn't watch the game. It wasn't the effort which was a problem we just lacked the quality tonight. Hopefully, Skuse and Bishop will be back on Saturday as truthfully that's who we were really missing. It was a very poor game no doubt, but I'm confident we'll bounce back and I still believe in Mick - two narrow defeats don't suddenly mean we're in some sort of crisis - especially when one of the teams are Champions League contenders.

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blues1 added 22:46 - Jan 14 Jas0999. While I agree with much of ur post, yet again u can't get ur facts straight. How did we only have 14 outfield players available? 10 in the starting line up, 6 on the bench. I make that 16. Would have been more if sammon not on way and hunt eligible, neither of which is the fault of ne1 at itfc. But yes, too many, as on sat who didn't play well, hyam in particular who looked totally out of his depth. Only 2 players for me who played OK were bru and parr. Oh, and ming's did OK when he came on.

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hancockingoal added 22:49 - Jan 14 The conditions didn't help, I can't fault the effort but we are not quite good enough? Not too upset with the result. Plenty of 'experts' sitting around me who were making their first visit for years but know better than Mick & Terry - tossers!
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dommyboyblue added 22:50 - Jan 14 I am not going to whinge as we all know what we saw. Although I must admit that I thought I would never say this but we miss skuse. Him and bish are our best midfield pairing and we would also be good to look at adopting the three at the back more often think Ming's and Parr (when on form) would cause some issues.
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HegansDog added 22:50 - Jan 14 We went to Millwall; we beat them6-1.
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marcus139 added 22:53 - Jan 14 Hyam is a terrible player. End of. No touch, no vision, dirty, utterly hopeless. Any professional, by nature, needs to have basic level of skill. He does not and should be in a different career.
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nybue added 22:55 - Jan 14 Wow. I really don't think a lot of you know what you are talking about. McGoldrick has been great for us this season. Murph wouldn't be on half the amount of goals that hes on without Didz playing up top with him. McGoldrick was by far our best play this evening - he kept the ball well hardly mislaid any passes and dropped back when needed.... albeit he smashed one into the side netting when he could have played it into the box but it was an instinctive shot with Fonte quickly closing him down. Mings looked very composed and good on the ball when he came on. I think Smith should be dropped and move Chambers back to CB with Parr coming on the right. Overall I dont think it was an awful game for us - we defended in numbers and pressed in attack but in the final third we didn't do quite enough - that being said Southampton are a class team who are a lot fitter than us, better tactically, and have the best defensive record in England. Only complaint would be to say that the passing at times was bad and especially the long balls, but MM has obviously said to play direct and hit them with the long balls up field - it just didn't work for us.

1

bluesince84 added 22:55 - Jan 14 but frustrating yes but to be fair southampton just tore shreds out of Arsenal and Manu. We were poor but obv not that poor that we didnt concede more than the one goal. Ive said it every post ive commented on, Mcgoaldrought just not there. His head is christ knows where. the trouble is, if we drop him, well lose him for the season. But this season will be won or lost in the midfield and we are being found out very quickly. How the hell sideways Hyam is even in the squad is a miracle. He refuses to pass it fwd, like the past 4 seasons, and when he does, 3 times a game, its straight to the opposition. But mick will sort it (i hope) need another striker. COYB!!!

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bellazzurri79 added 22:59 - Jan 14 There is one potential omen to ease the pain. Town suffered third round defeats to Southampton in 1961 and 2000 — both times they went on to seal promotion to the top-flight.
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marcus139 added 23:02 - Jan 14 NYBUE. Football is about spectators. Without them nobody cares. To defrend that dross is misguided. It was horrific. I am embarrassed it was on national t.v. Southampton just played us at our own game and comfortably won. The amount of head injuries should tell you, it was prehistoric football. We have no midfield without T. bishop.
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portmanteau added 23:13 - Jan 14 every good run has to end sometime but preferably not in this abject fashion. passing back to your goalkeeper time after time from way inside the opponents half isnt even park football standard. what a disappointment for such a large crowd.
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awayfan added 23:17 - Jan 14 Agree with Flewitt85 re Bru - he was always making himself available, got the ball down & used it intelligently in tricky playing conditions. He's a quality player IMO. Mings did well, as ever. Two disappointing performances in the TV games but I'm hopeful we'll bounce back & show more quality at Millwall.
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King_Thijssen added 23:18 - Jan 14 If I had a fiver for every time Hyam went backwards or gave away possession too easily 'I' could probably buy MM a midfielder to pull our strings. Luke ain't up to it, we can all see it, but Mr Evans has got to finally repay MM with a solid midfielder who is comfortable on the ball and can turn the opposition and distribute quickly and accurately - someone who can make town tick... or we're gonna start to get found out...

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Pessimistic added 23:28 - Jan 14 A hugely disappointing display - in fact "display" is only referring to abstract failure. Oh dear, this is the Mick the Man of my worst nightmares and if Town do get promotion then God forbid!
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StochesStotasBlewe added 23:39 - Jan 14 Southampton are 3rd in the premier league for a reason, they are a bloody good team. Not going to be too harsh, it,s clearly evident we need a Williams type midfielder or one who can dictate the play like Magilton did & can chip in with some goals. A striker with some quality also. These aint cheap, but I think (hope) Mick has something in the pipeline to address this. Lets get this result in perspective, they have just beaten two of europes top sides, we wern,t humiliated, but it has shown our limitations. On another note, will some of the pillocks who obviously don,t come to our games on a regular basis please refrain from constantly barracking all & sundry from minute 1 & actually try to support the team. Sure, have a good whinge but leave it for TWTD site. I,ve never heard so many Ron managers as I did tonight. COYB,S. 3 points at the Den Saturday please.

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bluehawaii added 23:42 - Jan 14 Agreed not a very good game, but some of the criticism of Town's lack of creativity is a bit harsh. We were missing a few midfielders, including Bishop and Skuse who probably would have started if fit, and we were playing against the team with the best defensive record in the premier. We managed more shots on goal than Man U were able. Overall, in two games a top premier team, they did not embarrass themselves and have shown that with a couple of additions, will be able to compete at the next level

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