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

paulcooperisgod added 09:59 - Jan 15 Now we will see if M E is really serious about promotion and the premier league or not, we need a striker NOW if he don't open the cheque book and give M M the money then I'm afraid his ambition doesn't match the rest of us and it's another year in the championship..... Over to you Marcus
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Razor added 10:25 - Jan 15 An aweful game in aweful conditions won by a jammy goal where the ball broke for the opposition,it could have gone anywhere. We needed a lucky break like that and like Saturday,never got it. Team looks jaded and needs freshening up and if (maddeningly) no new players are going to be brought in, lets try Mings in wide midfield for his strong runs, drop Chambo and Hyam who cant pass the ball out of a paper bag, and give Bajner a go as I thought he did OK when coming on and looked stronger. Crucial game obviuosly Sat and a MUST win, see you there!

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warkonthewildside added 11:49 - Jan 15 What an absolute legend Tyrone Mings is becoming! As soon as he came on he showed more passion and willingness to get forward than the rest of the team put together! I think some criticism on here is a little unfair. Southampton are 3rd in the Prem, they had one shot and scored from it! Looking at their side last night it was always going to be a difficult game to win, they had more quality on the ball, leading to more possession. I agree it was boring but the team showed commitment to each other. I was impressed with Bru, he also seemed up for it. We now have to concentrate on the League and if there are negatives taken from this game, it must be to strengthen the squad. There is not enough strength in depth.

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Cloddyseedbed added 13:10 - Jan 15 not a good game to watch last night but that was what I expected. In defence we have defenders who are very good at defending, however Chambers is not strong in the right back slot. They are good at defending but not one of them is comfortable on the ball in possession and their distribution is poor. Midfield at the moment is not good is it? Hyam is going through a bad time and he is the anchor man. He is also not comfortable on the ball and can't pass the ball, only backwards. Bru however is a very good player, good in the tackle, good vision and good at passing. Apart from him we do not have players in midfield that are comfortable on the ball either. Murphy, good on the ball and in possession normally and McGoldrick who seems to be having problems this season and is struggling with form. We have just had 2 tough test's against 2 good sides and not been thrashed, but on the other hand our players are not comfortable on the ball and can't keep hold of it and keep possession amongst themselves, this I find worrying. Last night we were passing it back when we were in the opposition half so the defenders can launch it up, the opposition defenders win the ball and are back bearing down on us again in a few seconds. It just isn't working. A few matches ago we were playing good football and keeping the ball, we have changed our approach - why? You can only get so far with hard work, you need a bit of skill too, when the players are tiring like they are now we could start to drop down the league, but I sincerely hope we don't.

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Kirbmeister added 13:20 - Jan 15 Why did we change our approach? Cos we were a top premiership side and were fielding our 2nd string midfield. Poor Hyam he was injured and back for theee games two against Soton and Derby. Man U couldn't pass through their midfield but our second string midfield should have done? Long and Tadic are their second string forward line too! We are all expecting far too much. Also I dont think MM was that bothered as he knows full well the league is one big slog all on its own.

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rickw added 14:14 - Jan 15 I think we changed our approach as Hyam & Bru were struggling against their 3 in midfield, but we didn't have any more midfielders to come on. Then when Didz got his knock MM thought we can't beat them in midfield so bring on Baijner and bypass the midfield He just didn't count on the wind blowing all our long balls back to the midfielders!! Hopefully Bishop + Skuse will be back for the weekend, I'd like us to go back to 433 too, we seemed more able to dominate games then

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coolcat added 14:40 - Jan 15 Some on here need to get a reality check. Was at the game last night. Disappointing game, but wasn't that bad, considering other prem teams have lost to them recently. Thought we lacked quality at times but to a side who is in top 4 of premiership. Not worth worrying about. We have same team who have got us to top 3 so we should get focus on the league and get behind the team, Mick and TC.

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dirtydingusmagee added 17:31 - Jan 15 no shame in this result,a cup run would have been nice but could be a hinderance to seasons objective.Beaten by a good in form team .
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blueboy1981 added 18:37 - Jan 15 Let's not overlook the fact that Southampton made 6 changes from the team that played their last Premiership match - so therefore we weren't exactly playing against their 1st Eleven. The 10k tag was all too visible throughout last night, Mings, Ambrose, Bru, and maybe Parr, being the only possible exceptions. Painfully thin squad, lacking quality, and numbers further reducing it seems by the day. Almost capacity crowd, beamed across the country, and we shoot ourselves in the foot yet again. Now that has to be a huge disappointment, for any True Blue. Without further signings the second half of the season could be really tough for us, and if anyone thinks McGoldrick is Premiership quality on recent showings - think again. There won't be a huge queue for his signature, or anyone else's other than Mings.

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blueboy1981 added 18:42 - Jan 15 ....... some seem to have forgotten already that this was the second dismal display within a few days at 'Fortress Portman Road' !! And we didn't even sniff the part in either, to be fair and honest.
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Luka added 00:37 - Jan 16 Some of these are laughable, get a grip. We could be top with a £10k team on Saturday and yet all of a sudden we have no midfield. Sorry Kirbmeister, was meant to plus your comment rather than minus it
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atty added 14:24 - Jan 16 Pissed off with pundits blaming Town for a poor game. Yes it wasn't great, we weren't great but neither Saints. Jacobs on Talksport moaning about Championship clubs- not good enough, gap,to big, they all come back down etc.Then their FL guy comes so on and says of the15 teams who were promoted over the last 5 seasons only 4 came straight back down. Anyway Jacobs (Chelsea supporter) it may have escaped your notice but not all clubs have Russian owners spending 100s of millions on them. I reckon MM could do a good job with just a 100 million!

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