Southampton 3-1 Sheff Wednesday
Jason Dodd kept his nerve from the penalty spot to ensure that Southampton went through to the fifth round for the first time in five years.
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James Beattie celebrates scoring the Saints third goal
(Craig Prentis/Allsport) |
The Saints skipper, whose penalty knocked Sheffield United out in the third round, repeated the feat to score the goal which effectively saw off their Steel City rivals and ended the Premier Division side's discomfort with only 11 minutes remaining.
Glenn Hoddle's team made uncomfortably hard work of a tie they should have won at a canter and needed two goals in the closing stages to seal it.
They strolled into an early lead when Sheffield-born Kevin Davies completed a sweeping move, heading home at the second attempt after Kevin Pressman had saved his close-range volley.
Wednesday had rarely looked like scoring before they equalised out of the blue as Andy Booth's glancing header caught goalkeeper Paul Jones flat-footed.
Southampton were gifted their second goal in the 79th minute when Booth handled away from Wayne Bridge and Dodd stepped up to drive in the penalty. Substitute Jo Tessem provided James Beattie with a simple third in injury-time.
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