Hat-trick hero Paul Rideout inspired Cup giantkillers Tranmere to claim their most amazing scalp yet, coming back from the dead to beat Southampton 4-3 at Prenton Park.

John Aldridge's remarkable first division strugglers staged one of the most memorable comebacks in FA Cup history to book a quarter final clash with his former club Liverpool.

Saints looked to be cruising through the fifth round replay, leading 3-0 at half-time with goals from Hassan Kachloul, Jo Tessem and Dean Richards.

But former Saint Rideout clawed Rovers back level with a superb 20-minute hat-trick and then substitute Stuart Barlow sent the Merseysiders wild with a thrilling winner six minutes from time.

Rovers have been the scourge of Premiership sides in the FA Cup and Worthington Cup in recent seasons but the manner of their fightback made this one of the greatest nights in Rovers' 117-year history.

After the dourness of Saturday's 0-0 stalemate at The Dell, this feast of football will live long in the memory as the first division's bottom club reached the last eight for the second year running.

The fans that invaded the pitch at the final whistle were wide eyed with disbelief at seeing their side performed an escape act of Houdini proportions.

That feeling was intensified when they remembered the poor first half that had gone before.

Moroccan Kachloul had run the show as he seemingly helped the visitors snuff out Rovers' hopes with a magical performance.

That had begun with Saints' first after 11 minutes with a moment of sheer quality.

Picking the ball up just inside the Rovers half he performed an exquisite one-two with Chris Marsden before driving on and then curling the ball beyond John Achterberg from fully 25 yards.

The goal seemed to unlock the tension that had so inhibited Glenn Hoddle's men at The Dell on Saturday, and chances began to come thick and fast for the visitors.

Two minutes later Kachloul very nearly doubled his tally, a deflected shot forcing the keeper to tip over at full stretch.

But it was of little surprise when the visitors pressure told for a second time 15 minutes later, with Kachloul in the thick of things again.

The striker, who turned 28 yesterday, benefited from a belated birthday present from Rovers' Andy Parkinson, whose stray ball initiated a Saints counterattack on the left. Kachloul found space and his cross picked out Tessem six yards out and the Norwegian made no mistake.

Richards grabbed a third in first-half stoppage time after a goalmouth scramble.

But Rovers refused to lie down and die and, on the hour, came a welcome lifeline for the Merseysiders, with skipper Rideout turning Parkinson's driven ball past Paul Jones.

The goal ignited the crowd and instilled in Rovers the belief that the impossible may just be possible.

And so it proved, as, after 70 minutes, Rovers closed the gap even further, with Rideout's bullet header converting Koumas' corner.

Ten minutes later came the former Southampton favourite's hat-trick goal courtesy of another header, this time from Parkinson's cross, and Rovers were level.

With six minutes left on the clock, and Rovers pouring forward in waves, Rideout sent the ball in for Barlow to cap a night to remember.

Teams:

Tranmere: Achterberg, Yates, Challinor (Barlow 45), Jobson, Hinds, Allen, Koumas (Roberts 89), Flynn, Hamilton (Henry 45), Parkinson, Rideout.

Subs Not Used: Murphy, Allison.

Booked: Barlow.

Goals: Rideout 59, 71, 80, Barlow 83.

Southampton: Jones, Marsden, Lundekvam, Richards, Gibbens, Draper, Bridge, Kachloul, Tessem, Beattie, Pahars (Bleidelis 45), Bleidelis (Rosler 85).

Subs Not Used: Moss, Ashford, Warner.

Booked: Beattie, Marsden.

Goals: Kachloul 12, Tessem 26, Richards 45.

Att: 12,910

Ref: S Dunn (Bristol).