Sport

Saints home in on cup glory

When Southampton fans get nervous as April approaches, it is usually the possibility of relegation preying on their minds

Jon Brodkin at St Mary's Stadium
Mon Mar 10 2003 - 00:00

When Southampton fans get nervous as April approaches, it is usually the possibility of relegation preying on their minds. Victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers yesterday ensured they have far more exciting concerns over the coming month.

Southampton are in an FA Cup semi-final for the first time since 1986 and the red wigs handed out before kick-off will have sat very nicely on the head of the man who made their breakthrough in a tight match, the follically challenged Chris Marsden.

Marsden never made much of a mark during a brief spell at Wolves in the mid-90s but the weak overhead kick with which he scored early in the second half will have scarred his former club. If that was a soft goal for Wolves to concede, so too was the second when Paul Butler steered a cross into his own net after Beattie failed to make contact at the near post with Jo Tessem's delivery.

In a poor first half Wolves looked solid and marginally the more likely scorers on the counter-attack, but Southampton deserved their success for a much-improved performance after the interval. The pain of defeat for Wolves manager Dave Jones on his return here must have been all the greater because he brought Marsden to the club.

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Marsden certainly chose a fine time to score only his third goal of the season. Until he found the net with an effort which should have been kept out by the Wolves goalkeeper Matt Murray, it seemed the Southampton followers would end up tearing out their false hair in frustration.

Marsden's overhead volley was missed by James Beattie, then bounced in front of Murray on its way in.

SOUTHAMPTON: Niemi, Dodd, Lundekvam, Michael Svensson, Bridge, Fernandes, Oakley, Anders Svensson (Tessem 78), Marsden, Ormerod, Beattie (Davies 90). Subs Not Used: Jones, Williams, Higginbotham. Booked: Beattie. Goals: Marsden 56, Butler 81 og.

WOLVERHAMPTON: Murray, Irwin, Butler, Lescott, Naylor, Newton (Sturridge 75), Cameron, Andrews (Rae 59), Kennedy, Miller, Blake (Proudlock 86). Subs Not Used: Oakes, Clyde. Booked: Blake.

Referee: A D'Urso (Essex)