Skipper Gareth Southgate was again Aston Villa's surprise goal hero as John Gregory's side delivered a second knockout blow to the Saints this season to reach the last 16 of the FA Cup.

England coach Kevin Keegan saw Southgate, who had netted both goals against Premiership leaders Leeds on Monday, settle the fourth round encounter mid-way through the first half.

It followed on from last month's success by Villa over Dave Jones' side in the Worthington Cup.

But Villa must be wondering how they failed to win this match by a cricket score after dominating for virtually the entire 90 minutes.

They had the opportunities to have surpassed their 4-0 triumph in the Worthington Cup encounter - and Southampton did not even manage a single shot on target in the entire game.

Gregory's side oozed confidence from the first whistle after their triumph at Elland Road.

The Saints clearly miss the pace at the back of injured central defender Dean Richards as they were carved open time and time again although Claus Lundekvam did his best to stem the pride.

The speed and trickery of Julian Joachim and Benito Carbone make them a formidable combination - particularly with the guile of Paul Merson to back them up from midfield.

With Gregory's 'bulldogs' Ian Taylor and George Boateng snapping away and driving forward with a non-stop relentless, Southampton were forced back.

But it needed defender Southgate to show his forward colleagues the way as a combination of some fine saves from Paul Jones and inept finishing kept the Saints in the hunt for so long.

Villa were soon on the offensive and Joachim came close to giving them a ninth minute lead when his glancing header from a Steve Watson cross flew inches wide of the far post.

It was the first of a whole string of gilt-edged opportunities for Gregory's side in the opening 45 minutes.

Carbone sent a 20-yard screamer just past the post after good play by Merson and Taylor.

Joachim then broke clear into the area after Merson and Taylor had again combined but he scooped his shot over the bar from close range.

Then defender Alan Wright got in on the act after Taylor stepped over a centre from Carbone but, with the goal at his mercy, he screwed his shot back across the face of goal.

It seemed only a matter of time before Villa broke the dead-lock and that man Southgate finally breached the Saints defence in the 20th minute.

The move started after Southampton defender Lundekvam was yellow-carded for holding back Joachim as he attempted to get on the end of a flick from Merson.

Merson floated the resulting free-kick to the far post where Taylor got up well to head back across goal - and Southgate did the rest from close range.

Southampton were restricted to the occasional spasmodic raid and their frustration showed when Kevin Davies was booked for a crude looking touch-line challenge on Boateng.

Lundekvam came to Southampton's rescue when he blocked a goal-bound effort from Boateng after Joachim had cut the ball back into his path.

Paul Jones tipped over a curling free-kick from Carbone and then the impressive Watson headed wide when well placed following a Merson corner.

Saints brought on Trond Soltvedt for Chris Marsden at the start of the second half but it was still Villa who continued to ask all the questions.

Jones saved a low drive from Wright but he was relieved to see a powerful header from Ian Taylor cannon against the crossbar from another pinpoint centre from Merson.

Jones then drew applause from Carbone after he acrobatically tipped over a left-footed effort from the Italian wizard.

The only black spot for Hendrie was the stretchering off of substitute Lee Hendrie after a clash with Saints substitute Hassan Kachloul.

Teams:

Aston Villa: James, Ehiogu, Southgate, Barry, Watson (Stone 67), Taylor, Boateng, Merson (Hendrie 71), Wright, Carbone, Joachim (Vassell 79).

Subs Not Used: Ghrayib, Cutler.

Booked: Carbone.

Goals: Southgate 20.

Southampton: Jones, Tessem, Benali, Lundekvam, Bridge, Ripley, Dodd (Kachloul 65), Marsden (Soltvedt 45), Boa Morte, Davies, Pahars (Hughes 71).

Subs Not Used: Colleter, Moss.

Booked: Lundekvam, Davies, Kachloul.

Att: 25,025

Ref: N Barry (Scunthorpe).