John Aldridge's cup specialists put their league worries behind them and produced another battling display against Premiership opposition to earn a replay at Prenton Park on Tuesday.

Tranmere may be fighting for survival at the foot of the First Division, but give them a cup tie against Premiership opposition and they are a different proposition.

In the past two years they have upset six Premiership clubs in both domestic competitions on their way to the FA Cup quarter-finals and a Worthington Cup final.

They will now fancy their chances of making it seven scalps when they take Glenn Hoddle's Saints back to Merseyside for a fifth round replay.

There were mixed fortunes for Tranmere in the early stages at The Dell as they enjoyed the best of the chances but lost skipper Clint Hill through injury after only 12 minutes.

Former Saints striker Paul Rideout - an FA Cup winner with Everton six years ago - had a chance to put John Aldridge's cup specialists in front inside the first two minutes.

Richard Hinds swung in a low cross from the right which found Rideout unmarked on the edge of the box. But he was off balance as he snatched at the shooting chance and mishit his effort.

Tranmere suffered a blow when Hill hobbled off for treatment on an ankle injury, and while he was on the sidelines Marian Pahars made a good run down the right and delivered a cross to the far post which skimmed off the head of Hassan Kachloul.

Hill returned to the action, but lasted a matter of seconds before collapsing again. This time he was carried off on a stretcher and was replaced by long throw specialist Dave Challinor.

There were few clear-cut chances until Paul Jones came to Southampton's rescue after 24 minutes with a fine save to deny Andy Parkinson from point-blank range.

A long ball over the top of the Saints defence caught out Lundekvam and Parkinson pounced on the edge of the box.

It was a clear one-on-one with the goalkeeper and although the Tranmere striker hit his shot powerfully, Jones stood up well and blocked the shot, before Dean Richards scrambled away the loose ball to signal a major let-off for the Premiership side.

Lundekvam made amends during five minutes of injury time. Parkinson used his pace to carve out another chance from 12 yards. But just as he shot, the big Norwegian defender made a good saving tackle to block the effort.

Saints had beaten First Division opposition in the previous two rounds, knocking out both Sheffield clubs at The Dell. So the home fans were becoming frustrated at their team's failure to dominate a team fighting for survival at the foot of Division One.

But Tranmere have the ability to step up several gears in the cup, as they proved when they defeated Everton in one of the fourth round's giantkilling acts to earn this tie.

Mark Draper was pushing further forward but got caught in possession by Hamilton on the edge of the visitors' box after 55 minutes, when he might have worked an opening.

Two minutes later Tessem played a ball into the path of Kachloul, but goalkeeper John Achterberg was off his line smartly to clutch the ball at the Moroccan's feet.

As the hour mark approached, skipper Jason Dodd won a free-kick 35 yards out when he was flattened from behind by Parkinson. But Beattie drove the ball into the defensive wall.

There was a lengthy delay as Oakley received treatment following a late tackle, and he was finally carried off on a stretcher in some pain after 64 minutes to be replaced by Tahar El Khalej.

Saints had their best chance a minute later when the ball fell to Tessem on the right edge of the box and he drilled a low shot just wide of the far post.

Tessem created an opening with a low cross for Kachloul after 68 minutes but Richard Jobson made a fine saving tackle on the six - yard line for a corner.

The deep corner was played back in by El Khalej and Beattie somehow failed to connect with his head.

Tranmere won a corner after 76 minutes which saw Challinor send in a header which Jones saved.

Saints decided it was time to call for fresh firepower and Uwe Rosler replaced Kachloul with 13 minutes remaining.

Pahars took the initiative after 80 minutes when he played a short corner to Tessem, took the return pass and drove a fierce left-foot shot at goal which Achterberg did well to turn behind.

Pahars got into a similar position with four minutes remaining but this time his shot flew wide of the post.

Saints' won an 89th minute free-kick which Dodd sent into the box and Lundekvam headed into the arms of Achterberg.

Then in injury time a Bridge free-kick floated straight into the net, but was rightly ruled out because Rosler had pushed the goalkeeper.

Tranmere held on through four minutes of injury time and when the final whistle came they had deserved their draw and will look forward to a replay on Merseyside on Tuesday night.

Teams:

Southampton: Jones, Dodd, Lundekvam, Richards, Bridge, Oakley (El Khalej 65), Draper, Tessem, Kachloul (Rosler 78), Pahars, Beattie.

Subs Not Used: Moss, Marsden, Bleidelis.

Tranmere: Achterberg, Yates, Hinds, Jobson, Allen, Hill (Challinor 12), Flynn, Koumas, Hamilton (Henry 89), Parkinson (Barlow 83), Rideout.

Subs Not Used: Murphy, Allison.

Booked: Barlow.

Att: 15,232

Ref: S Dunn (Bristol).