SOU vs SHR
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Our match report from St Mary's 📝

Read our match report on a night when Saints made sure of their place in the Emirates FA Cup fourth round, courtesy of a 2-0 victory at St Mary's over Shrewsbury Town of League One.

FULL TIME: Southampton 2-0 Shrewsbury Town

Job done for Saints, who progress to the fourth round with two goals - one early and one late - to set up a home tie with Arsenal on Saturday. Dan Nlundulu's first senior goal on his first senior start set the wheels in motion, opening the scoring inside 16 minutes, before numerous chances came and went to increase the lead, until James Ward-Prowse made the game safe with a trademark free-kick.

Southampton substitution: Ryan Finnigan replaces Ibrahima Diallo

It's a fourth debutant of the night, as 17-year-old Finnigan comes on for the remaining seconds. We're into two added minutes.

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GOALSCORER 8 James Ward-Prowse

The skipper makes it two!

Finally a second goal! It comes in familiar fashion, as Ward-Prowse lines up a free-kick near the left corner of the penalty area and duly finds his target, curling the ball away from the keeper and finding the near corner to wrap up the victory. Fourth round here we come!

What a chance for Adams!

That really should have been the clincher. Vokins dissects the defence with a brilliant pass to release Adams, who rounds the keeper only to see his shot blocked on the line by the covering Pierre, before Jankewitz's follow-up is deflected behind.

Southampton substitution: Alexandre Jankewitz replaces Caleb Watts

One debutant replaces another in the Saints midfield.

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Armstrong fires wide

First chance for the substitute, who is straight into the action with a 20-yard drive that just veers wide of the target.

Southampton substitution: Ché Adams replaces Shane Long

Adams joins Armstrong as Hasenhüttl introduces some extra experience from the bench.

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Southampton substitution: Stuart Armstrong replaces Kgaogelo Chauke

Chauke's debut comes to an end as Saints make a double change of their own.

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Long goes close

Another Ward-Prowse corner is flicked on by Long at the near post, but it's flicked wide, and nobody can apply the killer touch at the far post.

So close again!

Shrewsbury somehow survive another scare courtesy of an amazing last-ditch clearance from Pierre. Vokins cuts the ball back for Watts, whose first-time shot is parried by Sarkic into the defender, who just about stretches enough to clear the danger. Still Saints push for that elusive second goal.

Stephens denied by a great save!

So close to a second goal, as Ward-Prowse's corner is glanced on by Long and followed in by Stephens, who looks certain to score from six yards, but Sarkic throws himself at the ball to make a miraculous save.

Vokins causing problems

Saints are enjoying a really long, sustained spell of pressure, the highlight of which is a low cross from Vokins parried by Sarkic, who would have been relieved not to say any red shirts pouncing on the loose ball.

The second half is up and running...

We're back into the action at St Mary's!

HALF-TIME: Southampton 1-0 Shrewsbury Town

The young Saints lead at the interval courtesy of Dan Nlundulu's 16th minute goal - his first in senior football. Debutant Caleb Watts has impressed, whilst Shrewsbury goalkeeper Matija Sarkic made an early save to deny another Academy graduate Jake Vokins. So far so good for Ralph Hasenhüttl's inexperienced line-up, but the boss will want a second goal to give his side breathing space.

1️⃣ added minute...

We're into first-half stoppage time at St Mary's.

Last-ditch tackle denies Long

Great defending to keep Saints at bay, as Long takes a high ball on his chest and prepares to shoot, but defender Pennington comes flying across to make a vital block.

Watts shoots over

He'd love to have that one back... a defensive clearance falls kindly for Watts, but he snatches at the chance and cannot keep his shot down from 20 yards.

Ward-Prowse eyes up a free-kick...

It's a chance by the skipper's standards, albeit right of centre, which is not his preferred side, and he sends his shot flying over the crossbar. Goalkeeper Sarkic breathes a sigh of relief.

GOALSCORER 40 Dan Nlundulu

Nlundulu opens the scoring!

It's a special moment for Nlundulu, who scores his first senior goal! Ward-Prowse's long ball was taken down in the box by Watts and fell kindly for Nlundulu, whose low shot across goal nestles just inside the far post!

Valery finds space

Right-back Valery escapes down the flank and crosses towards Nlundulu, but Shrewsbury clear the danger. There's a good tempo about Saints in the early exchanges, despite the unfamiliar line-up.

Diallo fires wide

Saints are looking sharp and are on the front foot. Diallo trades passes with Nlundulu on the edge of the penalty area before shooting wide from 20 yards. Slick football and confidence growing early on.

Vokins goes close!

A lively start from the young Saints! Watts shows fine footwork before releasing Vokins, who forces goalkeeper Sarkic to tip his shot over.

We're under way at St Mary's!

The action is up and running...

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Get to know... Kgaogelo Chauke 😇

We've dug out this interview with "Kegs" Chauke, our second debutant tonight, who signed his first professional contract last January...

Get to know... Caleb Watts 😇

One of two debutants tonight, introducing Australian youth international Caleb Watts!

Ringing the changes...

The majority of you wanted to see a mixture of youth and experience tonight and the manager has delivered! In come Fraser Forster, Yan Valery, Jake Vokins, Shane Long and Dan Nlundulu, as well as debutants Caleb Watts and Kgaogelo Chauke. Centre-backs Jan Bednarek and Jack Stephens, and midfield pairing James Ward-Prowse and Ibrahima Diallo are the players to keep their places in the starting XI.

2️⃣ Debutants! 😇

Ralph Hasenhüttl hands debuts to Caleb Watts and Kgaogelo Chauke! The two Academy graduates are among seven changes for Saints.

Saints team confirmed 😇

Starting XI: Forster, Valery, Bednarek, Stephens, Vokins, Ward-Prowse, Diallo, Watts, Chauke, Nlundulu, Long.

Subs: Lewis, Tchaptchet, Walker-Peters, Bertrand, Finnigan, Jannkewitz, Armstrong, Ferry, Adams.

1️⃣5️⃣ minutes until team news...

Will the skipper keep his place? We'll have both line-ups for you at 7pm GMT!

Remember our last FA Cup win? 💭

It was a great day for the Southampton Academy the last time Saints tasted victory in the FA Cup, with Staplewood graduates Will Smallbone and Jake Vokins both on target against Huddersfield...

Cup classics: James Ward-Prowse

Did you know it was in the FA Cup that James Ward-Prowse scored his first Saints goal? It came in a 2-1 win at Coventry back in 2012 😇

it will be a mixed group - some guys who have to play, because there are not a lot of alternatives, and some young guys who will have to step in and show what they have shown in the sessions: that they are developing their game and deserve to get a chance to play."

ralph hasenhüttl

on tonight's team selection

Smallbone adds to growing injury list

Saints have been dealt more bad news on the injury front, with midfielder Will Smallbone set for a long spell on the sidelines with a serious knee problem. Ralph Hasenhüttl is already without Danny Ings, Jannik Vestergaard, Oriol Romeu, Nathan Redmond, Moussa Djenepo and Mohammed Salisu for tonight's tie. Read the manager's full team news update here.

Get in the matchday mood! 🤓

Check out our detailed Match Pack for everything you need to know about tonight's game ahead of kick-off.

Get well soon, Steve Cotterill 👊

The thoughts of everybody at Southampton Football Club are with Shrewsbury manager Steve Cotterill, who has spent time in intensive care after testing positive for Covid-19. Wishing you a speedy recovery, Steve.

Cup classics: Guly do Prado

Remember this belter at St Mary's? League One Saints sent Premier League Blackpool crashing out of the FA Cup 10 years ago, helped by this moment of magic from Guly do Prado!

we know it is not easy to play against lower league teams. they are fighting for everything - this is what you have to expect. we will take this seriously, without question."

ralph hasenhüttl

southampton manager

Hear from the boss! 🎙

We caught up with Ralph Hasenhüttl to discuss player availability, and why he wants Saints to make an impact on this season's competition.

🆙 for the cup! 🏆

Southampton's 2020/21 Emirates FA Cup journey starts here! It's third-round action at St Mary's tonight, as Saints welcome Shrewsbury Town for the first meeting between the clubs since November 2010. Saints are eighth in the Premier League, Shrewsbury 17th in League One. Stay with us for some interesting team news, plus all the build-up, regular match updates and live commentary!