League One promotion hopefuls Southampton ousted a Blackpool side minus the majority of its regulars from the FA Cup with a 2-0 win on Saturday.
Lee Barnard and Guly Do Prado scored second half goals for the hosts at St Marys as the survival-focused Ian Holloway was true to his word and left most of his first team at home. His side did have some experience in terms of former Saints Brett Ormerod and Jason Euell, but that did not stop them being dominated by the men from two leagues below.
Adam Lallana sent two early Southampton chances over the bar and Paul Rachubka then denied Rickie Lambert, who also struck the Seasiders’ bar after a spill from the home goalkeeper.
Barnard, at one stage, headed the ball out of Rachubka’s hands and to the net, but his bit of devilment did not stand and it remained scoreless at the break, with Blackpool’s second string having offered precisely nothing.
Southampton’s wastefulness should have been punished by Euell early in the second half, but he headed over from Neil Eardley’s inviting cross, and soon after Nigel Adkins’ side took the lead.
Lallana played in Lambert who had a crack only to be denied by Rachubka. However, the rebound fell to Barnard and he took his time before smashing the ball home.
Blackpool looked to hit back and Matt Phillips curled a brilliant effort on target only for Bartosz Bialkowski to superbly turn the shot behind. Ormerod then saw Aaron Martin clear an effort off the line as Holloway’s selection finally had a go.
However, the Saints still had more of it and Rachubka had to make saves from Barnard and Ryan Dickson before sub Do Prado finished Blackpool off. The Brazilian cut inside and beat the visiting goalkeeper with a stunning 20-yard shot two minutes from time.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain then hit the upright at the death as the hosts chased a third but two was enough as they march on to the fourth round. Holloway is unlikely to be too concerned to be marching out.