Southampton forced their way into the quarter-finals of the FA Cup through sheer will-power at St Mary's where late goals by Sweden's Anders Svensson and Norway's Jo Tessem left luckless Norwich City feeling the chill wind of what they will perceive as rough justice.

Although Brett Ormerod hit a post in only the fourth minute, and even a jaded-looking James Beattie demanded two fine saves from keeper Robert Green, Saints huffed and puffed unconvincingly for the majority of the game - just as they did against first division Millwall whom they finally dismissed in an extra time replay in the previous round.

And they might have been glad to settle for another re-run at the moment Norwich's Paul McVeigh shimmied and swayed his way into the area and curled a glorious shot around keeper Antti Niemi - only to see it bounce back into play off the far post.

And within the blink of an eye, Saints had grabbed a precious and decisive 69th-minute lead, midfielder Svensson simply tapping in a knockdown by Ormerod from skipper Chris Marsden's cross.

It was enough to make even Delia Smith, Norwich's celebrity cook supremo, over-boil the potatoes in disgust. Yet there was even worse to come.

Tessem, having arrived as a 71st-minute substitute for the tiring Beattie, hooked home the loose ball just 90 seconds later after the gallant Green palmed out Marsden's power drive.

To cap it all, defender Malky Mackay collected a second yellow card, fouling Ormerod eight minutes from time when Southampton were running rampant at last, and the red was a formality.

Saints, beaten only twice at St Mary's this season - by Liverpool and Manchester United - again had to work hard to impose themselves on first division opposition.

Mackay and Craig Fleming, the two Norwich centre backs, kept a close guard early on against new England cap Beattie.

And behind them Green distinguished himself with a hat-trick of saves before the break - first from Beattie's beautifully curling free kick from 25 yards after Steen Nedergaard was booked for chopping down the Saints star, and then from the striker's downward header before Anders Svensson tested Green's reflexes again from long range in first half stoppage time.

At the other end, a nervous-looking Niemi had to look sharp off his line to deny David Nielsen from Phil Mulryne's cute through-pass and, having celebrated an early escape when Ormerod's pace took him through to shoot against a post in only the fourth minute, Norwich kept posing the little problems for the hosts - much like Millwall did in the previous round.

Sadly, City could supply no cutting edge before the interval, with big Iwan Roberts too slow to take advantage of the busy McVeigh's smart set-up when Paul Telfer cleared off his toes close-in.

And there was an ominous feel to Southampton's growing measure of control towards the end of the first period.

A desperate Mackay was lucky to be only booked for hauling back Telfer when the full back burst clear down the right.

Green had to be right on his toes to defy a sustained spell of pressure before the half time whistle brought relief.

Frenchman Fabrice Fernandes, surprisingly left out of the starting line-up, promised more for Saints after replacing Rory Delap who suffered a jarred knee on his comeback but, after early efforts foundered on the rock of Norwich's defence at the start of the second half, it took late counters to pay off for Gordon Strachan's side.

Beattie and Matt Oakley were jeered by the Norwich fans after wild efforts that flew into the crowd and Southampton were beginning to look frantic by the time Svenssson tapped in.

Strachan promptly removed Beattie from the fray and as well as a brief rest for his new England man, was also given the bonus of substitute Tessem's clincher - with his first touch.

Teams

Southampton Niemi, Telfer, Michael Svensson, Lundekvam, Higginbotham, Anders Svensson, Oakley (Dodd 68), Delap (Fernandes 32), Marsden, Beattie (Tessem 72), Ormerod.

Subs Not Used: Jones, Williams.

Goals: Anders Svensson 71, Tessem 74.

Norwich Green, Nedergaard, Mackay, Fleming, Drury, Russell, Holt, Mulryne (Abbey 72), McVeigh (Easton 88), Roberts, Nielsen (Henderson 80).

Subs Not Used: Heckingbottom, Crichton.

Sent Off: Mackay (82).

Booked: Nedergaard, Mackay, Russell.

Att: 31,103

Ref: G Barber (Hertfordshire).