Southampton defender Darren Kenton's wickedly deflected 87th-minute drive broke MK Dons' FA Cup hearts at St Mary's after they had fought back from 3-1 down to 3-3.

Kenton's hopeful shot ricocheted past the helpless Matt Baker to spare Saints' blushes.

The Coca-Cola Championship side had looked like coasting home after 'supersub' teenager Theo Walcott came on to significant effect 12 minutes into the second half.

But Danny Wilson's Dons, bottom of League One, hit back to equalise David Prutton's 40th-minute opener with an own goal by Claus Lundekvam on 56 minutes after a penetrating run and shot by Wade Small.

By then, Saints' new boss George Burley was already getting ready with a double substitution - 16-year-old Walcott and co-striker Ricardo Fuller.

The hosts were lucky not to be down to 10 men before the interval, referee Steve Tanner missing a cynical foul by Chris Baird on the visitors' star striker Izale McLeod.

The Dons ace - apparently wanted by Wolves and Everton - had cut inside Northern Ireland defender Baird on a clear route to goal when he was brought down.

But the official, who did not even have a word with his flag-waving linesman, was given fearful abuse by the Dons' 2,500 travelling fans.

Within eight minutes of his subsequent arrival, Walcott - wanted by Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham - had set up Nigel Quashie to restore Southampton's lead; then Walcott himself pounced on a lucky bounce to make it 3-1 with his fifth of the season.

It looked plain sailing for the home side - but they cracked under Dons' pressure.

Nicky Rizzo looked to have bagged merely a consolation with a deflected 79th-minute strike; then six minutes later, Aussie striker Gareth Edds snatched an equaliser.

Before they could celebrate, however, Kenton's shot crashed home the winner - and Saints kept their dignity.

Southampton are 14th in the Championship and were knocked out of the Carling Cup by League Two team Mansfield earlier this season.

Their humiliation in this game looked like being a poorly 15,908 crowd, following a fans boycott mission against Chairman Rupert Lowe.

Dons' gallant fightback, sparked by Lundekvam's own-goal, nine minutes after the break looked like superseding it until Walcott - who had enough chances to net a hat-trick - and then Kenton popped up.

Teams:

Southampton Smith, Baird, Kenton, Lundekvam, Cranie, Dyer (Walcott 60), Prutton, Quashie, Belmadi (Folly 78), Blackstock, Ormerod (Fuller 60).

Subs Not Used: Mills, Bialkowski.

Booked: Kenton, Lundekvam, Quashie.

Goals: Prutton 40, Quashie 60, Walcott 66, Kenton 88.

Milton Keynes Dons Baker, McClenahan (Rizzo 64), Morgan, Chorley, Lewington, Small (Kamara 90), Mitchell, Edds, Crooks, McLeod, Platt (Wilbraham 76).

Subs Not Used: Quinn, Ricketts.

Booked: Morgan, Chorley.

Goals: Lundekvam 59 og, Rizzo 79, Edds 84.

Att: 15,908

Ref: S Tanner (Somerset).