Saints took on the Owls on a night when a few big names fell and it was more about the heart shown and the result than the nature of the win, it wasn't pretty but who caes we progressed forward.

In truth we weren't going to learn much from this match about how the team would go forward, but what we did learn is that the side still has heart, even when nothing was going right and the crowd was getting restless.

The first 20 minutes weren't bad, we looked comfortable although Wednesday had a couple of chances, but on 24 minutes it all went wrong, Windass was put through and made no mistake to put the visitors ahead.

That saw some disgraceful behaviour in the Northam End when a section started singing "We're going down" the same section also sung " you're getting sacked in the morning" at Ralph Hasenhuttl on Sunday, I'm not sure what they want, this was a game with a virtual second string and so wasn't a great measure of how the season will go especially with a new manager imminent.

The rest of the second half wasn't great the crowd was making the team edgy but we dug in and were still in there as half time approached, but with 2 of 3 minutes of extra time on the clock Saints got a penalty when Moussa Djeneppo was brought down and James Ward Prowse obliged.

So the second half would be better wouldn't it, for long periods it wasn't great, but Wednesday now rarely threatened, however we couldn't seem to find that moment to put the game to bed, we should have, we really should have scored but Wednesday cleared off the line twice in 10 seconds from Theo Walcott and then Stuart Armstrong hit the bar in the final minute as Saints pushed.

So to penalty's, in truth Saints looked assured and so did the visitors but on the 12th penalty of the night, Alex McCarthy saved with his feet to send Saints through.

Not a great night's work, but in a turbulent week the end result was more important than the performance and from this perspective it was a good ending.

This will not be the team that faces Liverpool on Saturday whoever is in charge, so we can take little going forward, but we are in the next round so some positive news at last.

Photo: Action Images

underweststand added 08:10 - Nov 10 Getting through to the next round is a good consolation for a poor performance but we had another 18 shots - without a goal from open play. At least we discovered that we have 6 players who can score from the spot, something that Gareth Southgate should remember that in an important penalty situation - JWP is at least one Englishman who can convert penalties when it really matters. I noted (Nick) that you dug out a very old photo of Alex McCarthy facing a penalty, it must have been deep in the Archive - as I can see Boufal in the foreground of the photo.

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halftimeorange added 09:47 - Nov 10 Last night displayed everything that's been wrong with Saints for too long. It seems the rule is that "every move has to be played via JWP" and his rule is "only one pass in five should be forward". The only spark in the first half was Edozie who was given scant protection by the referee and little support by his teammates going towards the SW goal. Having said that, apart from Edozie, both Adam A and Djenepo made promising forward moves only to be ignored in favour of slowing the game and passing backwards. That reminded me of the frustration Gabbiadini displayed when at St Marys. Our lack of height was highly evident against a tall side. Theo's lame shots were frankly laughable. Finally, what on earth was wrong with Salisu. He was awful and righfully taken off. Maybe he's worried that Ralph's prophesy that "Salisu is our future" is now null and void. Good luck to Nathan Jones. He's not my choice but, I'll give him the benefit of the board's research.

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SanMarco added 09:54 - Nov 10 We are through which is the main thing. Our inability to take chances runs deep though. The next round is 2-3 days after the WC final - so perhaps getting a 'big' team might be quite useful!!
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DorsetIan added 10:17 - Nov 10 Never an opportunity missed to have a dig at the fans.
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Block8 added 11:23 - Nov 10 Very hesitant & nervous performance, lets just hope it was due to the new manager watching & not a sign of the lack of confidence we fear is there!
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ItchenNorth added 14:26 - Nov 10 DorsetIan; this is not directed at you but regards some fans we have; what planet are they really on singing 'we're going down' or to boo a player before he's kicked a ball in a game. Is it funny, is it helpful! What must the players think. Does it inspire them to play better for the club we love ?! It shows a real lack of intelligence and maturity that some people have, just like all these idiots on Twitter ranting and raving about Nathan Jones, before hes even set foot in the door and done anything with management of Saints ! I sat in the Northam Stand last night, moving from my season ticket seat in the Itchen North, and my God, it was embarrassing and pathetic from a group of fans in there. My observation was these are in general, teens and 20 somethings that are there to have a laugh and act all big and cleaver, because they are in the Notham (and there's a few in the Itchen North as well). The clearly have no brains to work out its counter productive. Support the bloody team and stop being part of the problem as well.

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