Matt Oakley scored his first goals of the season to fire Southampton into the FA Cup fifth round with an extra-time replay win over Millwall in a cracking tie at the New Den.
The Saints midfielder signed an extended contract for Gordon Strachan's side
last week, and put the visitors ahead with a 22nd-minute shot.
But his winner in extra-time finally finished off stubborn resistance from the
First Division side, who had equalised through Steven Reid, to set up a home tie
with Norwich.
Southampton defender Francis Benali presented Millwall with the first chance
of the game, playing a sloppy pass straight to 19-year-old Charley Hearn in only
the third minute.
Hearn was clean through on goal, but failed to capitalise on the gift, with
Benali quick to track back and block his shot from inside the penalty area.
From the resulting corner Dennis Wise let fly with a wicked drive, but his
shot was cleared. In his frustration Wise earned a booking for a reckless
tackle.
Reid was called up by the Republic of Ireland this week and proved his quality
with a rasping 30-yard free-kick in the 18th minute.
His right-foot rocket had Saints goalkeeper Antti Niemi beaten, but flew just
inches over the crossbar.
But the visitors opened the scoring in stunning fashion after 21 minutes when
Paul Telfer's right-wing cross deflected off Reid to Jo Tessem,
He chested the ball down for Oakley and he drilled an unstoppable shot past
Tony Warner for his first goal of the season.
But the home side sprung a surprise with a 37th minute equaliser. Paul Ifill
passed to Steve Claridge on the right wing and his low cross found the onrushing
Reid.
Niemi parried his first effort but Reid netted the rebound.
Beattie has 16 Premiership goals to his name this season, but 21-year-old
defender Paul Robinson was doing a good job of winning the physical battle
against him, and was booked for an over-zealous challenge on the high-profile
striker.
Millwall enjoyed a good spell of early second-half pressure, forcing a flurry
of corners. Wise found Claridge, who turned to shoot and forced Niemi into a
fingertip save.
Gordon Strachan had seen enough and threw on Kevin Davies, who scored the
equaliser in a 1-1 draw between the sides at St Mary's.
In the 68th minute Beattie rose to head Telfer's cross against the upright,
with keeper Warner rooted to the spot.
And the 24-year-old striker came close to winning it in the 83rd minute from
Chris Marsden's left-wing cross, but Warner beat him to the ball.
Beattie was all alone shortly afterwards when he unleashed a shot which hit
Robinson to deflect narrowly wide of the Millwall goal.
Tempers then flared between former Portsmouth player and manager Claridge and
Saints captain Marsden, with the latter earning a booking as the tie went into
extra-time.
Both sides looked nervous in a tense first period, with passes going astray.
But Beattie drew a save from Warner with a firm drive from the edge of the
penalty area.
Reid was robbed in possession by Marsden, and Oakley had time to pick his spot
from the edge of the area, beating Warner's despairing dive with a sweet
right-foot shot.
Time was running out for Millwall, and worried manager Mark McGhee sent on
Sergei Baltacha to play as an extra attacker.
But Southampton were content to keep possession and dominated play until a
late burst from the home side, with Niemi smothering at the feet of substitute
Ben May.
Teams:
Millwall: Warner, Lawrence (Baltacha 111), Ryan, Ward,
Robinson, Ifill, Hearn (Kinet 86), Wise (May 104), Reid,
Livermore, Claridge.
Subs Not Used: Gueret, Roberts.
Booked: Wise, Robinson, Claridge.
Goals: Reid 37.
Southampton: Niemi, Telfer, Benali, Lundekvam,
Michael Svensson, Fernandes (Ormerod 105), Anders Svensson,
Oakley, Marsden, Beattie, Tessem (Davies 65).
Subs Not Used: Jones, Williams, Arias.
Booked: Beattie, Marsden.
Goals: Oakley 21, 102.
Att: 10,197
Ref: M Halsey (Lancashire).