Southampton 2 Ipswich Town 1

An arduous Championship grind has given Roy Keane cause for exasperation this season and he now has to contend with the piercing disappointment of an FA Cup upset.

The rational would argue that Southampton’s triumph hardly constitutes a shock since they have looked impressive one division below Ipswich Town, yet this defeat will resonate abrasively with the Irishman, winner of this competition four times as a player.

Ipswich would be ameliorated immeasurably by an intelligent schemer capable of breaching defences. Their attacks lacked guile even though their approach play displayed a fluency which had instigated a run of one defeat in 15 matches before this one.

It was, nonetheless, a great compliment to Southampton manager Alan Pardew and his players that, for large periods, this fixture might easily have been mistaken for a league clash rather than a cup tie.

Southampton pressed Ipswich all over the pitch. Forward Lee Barnard, who Southampton assistant manager, Dean Wilkins, predicted would have a “mouth-watering” impact on this game, carried out the unglamorous job of spearheading his side’s harassment of Ipswich Town.

The pressure exerted on the ball prompted a brittleness which has undermined them so often. Lee Holmes’ flick in the first half located an unmarked Barnard in the area but his shot was tame.

Ipswich responded, threatening to reinforce their passing game, which broke down in the second half, with a cutting edge. One flowing move found Jaime Peters, tearing forward from left back, but his tantalising cross somehow eluded the blue shirts racing into the box.

Then came a goal to shudder Ipswich and elate Southampton. Joseph Mills’ cross was headed out by Gareth McAuley and met some 25 yards out by Wayne Thomas, whose sublimely-executed angled shot found the top corner.

Such adroitness was out of sync with an attritional game but Thomas’ extravagant finish deserved to settle matters. As it was substitute Michail Antonio clinched Southampton’s progress to the next round.

McAuley was penalised for a foul outside his own box, Rickie Lambert’s free-kick squirmed out of Arran Lee-Barrett’s grasp and Antonio swept in the loose ball. Pablo Counago pulled a goal back but Southampton were not to be denied. “We’re going to Wembley” sang their supporters with voracious joy.

Neil Trainis (telegraph.co.uk)